Battery module

Abstract

A battery module according to an embodiment of the present application can include at least one battery pack, and a heat dissipation member coupled to one side of the at least one battery pack to discharge heat generated in the at least one battery pack to the outside, the at least one battery pack can include at least one cell stack, a fire retardant cover coupled to the cell stack and covering both side surfaces and an upper portion of the cell stack, and a fire retardant member which is a porous material and is disposed between an upper surface of the cell stack and the fire retardant cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a battery module. Background Technology

[0002] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged, making them suitable for various applications such as digital cameras, mobile phones, laptops, and hybrid vehicles. Secondary batteries can be nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, nickel-metal hydride, and lithium-ion batteries, among others.

[0003] In such secondary batteries, a great deal of research is being conducted on lithium secondary batteries with high energy density and discharge voltage. Recently, lithium secondary batteries have been manufactured into flexible pouch-type battery cells and used in a modular form by connecting multiple battery cells.

[0004] On the other hand, when the battery module is used for a long time, the battery will generate heat. In particular, the internal temperature of the battery rises sharply during charging. This temperature rise will shorten the battery's life and reduce its efficiency. In the worst case, it may even catch fire or explode.

[0005] Previously, the battery cells housed inside battery modules were all located in a single space. Therefore, when any one battery cell produced a flame, there was a problem that the flame could easily spread to other battery cells and proliferate.

[0006] Therefore, a battery module capable of suppressing the spread of flames or heat to the outside is required. Summary of the Invention

[0007] (a) Technical problems to be solved

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a battery module that can suppress the spread of flame or heat when a flame is generated in the battery cell.

[0009] (II) Technical Solution

[0010] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: at least one battery pack; and a heat dissipation member, coupled to one side of at least one of the battery packs to dissipate heat generated within at least one of the battery packs to the outside, wherein at least one of the battery packs may include: at least one battery cell stack; a flame-retardant cover, coupled to the battery cell stack and covering both sides and the top of the battery cell stack; and a flame-retardant member, which is a porous material and disposed between the upper surface of the battery cell stack and the flame-retardant cover.

[0011] In this embodiment, the flame-retardant cover may include: a side portion, which is attached to both sides of the battery cell stack; and an upper portion, which connects the two side portions and is disposed on the upper part of the battery cell stack, wherein at least one vent may be provided in the upper portion.

[0012] In this embodiment, at least one of the exhaust ports may be located in the area facing the electrode leads of the battery cell.

[0013] In this embodiment, the upper surface may include a protrusion that protrudes toward the direction in which the battery cell is provided with electrode leads, and at least one of the exhaust ports may be disposed in the protrusion.

[0014] In this embodiment, the flame-retardant cover may be formed from a mica sheet containing mica.

[0015] In this embodiment, the flame-retardant cover can be formed from any one of stainless steel, graphite, graphene, carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), or non-woven compressible fiber.

[0016] In this embodiment, the flame-retardant component can be formed in the form of a foam pad containing mica.

[0017] In this embodiment, the flame-retardant component can be disposed between the battery cell and the flame-retardant cover in a state of being compressed to a predetermined volume, and pressure can be applied to the battery cell by the restoring force of the flame-retardant component.

[0018] In this embodiment, the battery cell may include: a receiving portion for receiving electrode assemblies; and a sealing portion disposed along the outer periphery of the receiving portion, at least one of the sealing portions being pressed and tightly disposed on the receiving portion by the flame-retardant member.

[0019] In this embodiment, the battery module may further include a housing disposed on the upper part of the flame-retardant cover to face the upper surface of the flame-retardant cover, and the housing may be provided with at least one exhaust port for discharging gas formed in the battery cell.

[0020] In this embodiment, at least one of the discharge holes can be configured not to overlap with the exhaust port.

[0021] In this embodiment, the battery module may further include a heat transfer component, which may be disposed between the battery cell and the heat dissipation component.

[0022] In this embodiment, the heat transfer component may include any one of thermal grease, thermal adhesive, and thermal pad.

[0023] Additionally, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include: a battery cell stack, consisting of one or more battery cells stacked together; a flame-retardant cover disposed on the upper part of the battery cell stack and having at least one vent; and a housing that internally houses the battery cell stack and the flame-retardant cover, wherein the surface of the housing facing the flame-retardant cover may have at least one vent hole.

[0024] In this embodiment, at least one of the discharge holes can be configured not to overlap with the exhaust port.

[0025] In this embodiment, the battery module may further include a flame-retardant component, which is in the form of foam and is disposed between the battery cell stack and the flame-retardant cover to block the spread of flame.

[0026] (III) Beneficial Effects

[0027] According to embodiments of the present invention, even if a flame is generated in any one of the battery cells, the gas can be exhausted to the outside while preventing other battery cells in the battery pack from being directly exposed to the flame. Therefore, flame or heat spread can be suppressed. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The image shows an exploded perspective view of the battery module.

[0030] Figure 3 It is shown in magnification Figure 2 A 3D view of the battery cell.

[0031] Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 The sectional view taken from I-I'.

[0032] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A partial side view of the battery cell shown.

[0033] Figure 6 and Figure 7 These are partial side views of a battery cell according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0035] 100: Battery Module 1: Battery Cell Stack

[0036] 10: Battery unit 21: Flame-retardant cover

[0037] 25: Flame-retardant components; 30: Shell

[0038] 40: Second board 50: First board

[0039] 60: Side cover; 80: Insulating cover

[0040] 90: Fixing plate Detailed Implementation

[0041] Before detailing the invention, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings, but rather as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of ​​the invention, based on the inventor's ability to appropriately define the concepts of the terms to best illustrate the invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification and the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the invention and do not represent the entirety of the technical idea of ​​the invention. Thus, it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications that can replace these embodiments from the perspective of this application are included.

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same reference numerals denote the same components in the drawings. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures that may obscure the spirit of the invention have been omitted. Similarly, some components are shown enlarged, omitted, or schematically in the drawings, and the dimensions of each component do not perfectly reflect its actual dimensions.

[0043] Furthermore, in this specification, the terms "upper side," "upper part," "lower side," "lower part," "side," etc., are based on the content shown in the accompanying drawings. When the orientation of the corresponding object changes, it can be described in different ways.

[0044] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The exploded perspective view of the battery module shown. Figure 3 It is shown in magnification Figure 2 A 3D view of the battery cell. Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 The sectional view taken from I-I'.

[0045] Reference Figures 1 to 4The battery module 100 in this embodiment may include a plurality of battery packs 2 having a battery cell stack 1, a housing 30, and a busbar assembly 70.

[0046] Battery cell stack 1 can be stacked with multiple Figure 3 The battery cells 10 shown are formed. In this embodiment, the battery cells 10 are stacked in the left-right direction (or horizontal direction). However, the battery cells 10 can also be stacked in the vertical direction as needed.

[0047] Each battery cell 10 can be a pouched type secondary battery and can have an electrode lead 15 protruding outwards.

[0048] Battery cell 10 can be connected to electrode assembly 7 (see reference 7) Figure 5 The form structure is contained within bag 11.

[0049] The electrode assembly includes multiple electrode plates and electrode connectors and is housed within a bag 11. The electrode plates include an anode plate and a cathode plate, and the electrode assembly can be configured such that the anode and cathode plates are stacked such that a diaphragm is sandwiched between them and their wide surfaces face each other.

[0050] The anode plate and cathode plate are formed as a structure in which an active material slurry is coated on the current collector. Typically, the slurry is formed by stirring granular active material, auxiliary conductor, binder, plasticizer, etc. in the presence of a solvent.

[0051] In addition, the multiple anode plates and multiple cathode plates of the electrode assembly are stacked vertically. At this time, each of the multiple anode plates and multiple cathode plates can be provided with an electrode connector, and the same polarity contacts each other and is connected to the same electrode lead 15.

[0052] In this embodiment, the two electrode leads 15 can be configured to face opposite directions.

[0053] The bag 11 is formed in a container shape to form the outline of the battery cell 10 and can provide internal space for accommodating the electrode assembly and electrolyte (not shown). At this time, a portion of the electrode leads 15 of the electrode assembly can be exposed to the outside of the bag 11.

[0054] The bag 11 can be divided into a sealing part 202 and a receiving part 204.

[0055] The receiving portion 204 can be formed in the shape of a container to provide a rectangular internal space. The electrode assembly and electrolyte can be housed within the internal space of the receiving portion 204.

[0056] The sealing portion 202 is a part of the bag 11 that joins to seal the edge of the receiving portion 204. Therefore, the sealing portion 202 is formed as a flange shape extending outward from the receiving portion 204 which is formed in the shape of a container, so that the sealing portion 202 can be provided along the outer periphery of the receiving portion 204.

[0057] Bag 11 can be joined by heat fusion welding, but is not limited to this method.

[0058] In addition, in this embodiment, the sealing part 202 can be divided into a first sealing part 2021 provided with electrode leads 15 and a second sealing part 2022 not provided with electrode leads 15.

[0059] In this embodiment, the bag 11 can be formed by forming a sheet of outer material. More specifically, the bag 11 can be completed by forming one or two receiving portions on a sheet of outer material and then folding the outer material to form a space (i.e., a receiving portion) for the receiving portions.

[0060] In this embodiment, the receiving portion 204 can be formed into a rectangle. Furthermore, a sealing portion 202 formed by joining the outer casing material is provided on the outer periphery of the receiving portion 204. Therefore, in this embodiment, the battery cell 10 does not need to form the sealing portion 202 on the surface of the folded outer casing material. Therefore, in this embodiment, the sealing portion 202 can be provided only on three of the four faces forming the outer periphery of the receiving portion 204, or the sealing portion may not be provided on any of the four faces forming the outer periphery of the receiving portion. Figure 3 On the lower surface of the middle.

[0061] In this embodiment, the electrode leads 15 are configured to face opposite directions to each other, so the two electrode leads 15 can be provided on the sealing portions 202 formed on different sides. Therefore, the sealing portion 202 in this embodiment may include two first sealing portions 2021 provided with electrode leads 15 and a second sealing portion 2022 not provided with electrode leads 15.

[0062] In addition, in the battery cell 10 of this embodiment, the sealing portion 202 can be formed in a shape that is folded at least once to improve the engagement reliability of the sealing portion 202 and minimize the volume occupied by the sealing portion 202 in the module.

[0063] More specifically, the battery cell 10 according to this embodiment can be configured such that the second sealing portion 2022, which is not provided with electrode leads 15, is folded twice only.

[0064] The second sealing portion 2022 can be folded in a direction that reduces the area of ​​the battery cell 10. For example, in this embodiment, the fold lines C1 and C2, which are the lines along which the second sealing portion 2022 is folded, are set to be parallel to the outer periphery of the receiving portion 204, and the second sealing portion 2022 can be folded along the fold lines C1 and C2 in a manner in which at least a portion of the second sealing portion 2022 overlaps. Therefore, the second sealing portion 2022, which is folded at least once, can have a uniform width.

[0065] The second sealing part 2022 can be along... Figure 3 The first fold line C1 and the second fold line C2 shown are folded twice at 180°, and can then be folded again at 90° along the first fold line C1 and fixed by the fixing member 19.

[0066] At this time, the interior of the second sealing portion 2022 can be filled with the adhesive member 17, so that the second sealing portion 2022 can maintain its folded shape by the adhesive member 17. The adhesive member 17 can be formed of an adhesive with high thermal conductivity. For example, the adhesive member 17 can be formed of epoxy resin or silicone resin, but is not limited thereto.

[0067] In addition, the battery unit 10 of this embodiment can be fixed to the receiving portion 204 side by the fixing member 19 to tightly fix the second sealing portion 2022.

[0068] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 A partial side view of the battery cell shown, with reference to Figure 5 The fixing member 19 can be bonded along the surface of the receiving portion 204 and the second sealing portion 2022 of the battery cell 10 to tightly attach and fix the second sealing portion 2022 to the receiving portion 204.

[0069] The fixing member 19 can be made of adhesive tape, but is not limited to this. For example, a film or sheet can be attached to the surface of the battery cell 10 after applying an adhesive solution to serve as the fixing member 19. Alternatively, the fixing member 19 can be made in the form of a clip.

[0070] In this embodiment, the second sealing portion 2022 is fixed by three spaced-apart fixing members 19. However, this is not a limitation, and the number of fixing members 19 can be varied as needed. Alternatively, a long adhesive tape can be attached to the entire second sealing portion 2022.

[0071] In addition, various modifications can be made to the fixing member 19 of the present invention.

[0072] Figure 6 and Figure 7These are partial side views of a battery cell according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 and Figure 7 An example is shown where the fixing member 19a is inserted between the second sealing part 2022 and the receiving part 204 to secure the second sealing part 2022 tightly to the receiving part 204.

[0073] Reference Figure 6 The second sealing portion 2022 is tightly fixed to the receiving portion 204 by the fixing member 19a. When the second sealing portion 2022 is fixed in this way, the fixing member 19a can be formed of the same material as the adhesive member 17. However, it is not limited to this, and a different material from the adhesive member 17 can also be used. For example, the fixing member 19a can be formed as double-sided adhesive tape, or it can be formed by applying a liquid adhesive.

[0074] On the other hand, such as Figure 7 As shown, the adhesive member 17 disposed within the second sealing portion 2022 can be omitted as needed. (Refer to...) Figure 7 Only a fixing member 19a is provided between the second sealing part 2022 and the receiving part 204, without any adhesive member. By omitting the adhesive member as described above, the manufacturing process can be minimized.

[0075] The battery cell 10 constructed as described above can be a rechargeable and dischargeable battery, specifically a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery or a nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery.

[0076] The battery cells 10 are arranged perpendicular to the bottom surface and stacked in the left-right direction within the flame-retardant cover 21, which will be described below. In addition, at least one cushioning pad 5 may be provided between the stacked battery cells 10 or between the battery pack 2 and the housing 30.

[0077] In this embodiment, the buffer pad 5 is disposed between the battery packs 2 and between the battery packs 2 and the housing 30. However, it is not limited to this.

[0078] When the battery cell 10 expands, the buffer pad 5 is compressed to elastically deform. Therefore, the overall volume expansion of the battery cell stack 1 or battery pack 2 can be suppressed. For this purpose, the buffer pad 5 can be made of polyurethane foam, but is not limited to this. Alternatively, the buffer pad can be omitted to improve the energy density of the battery module.

[0079] In this embodiment, the battery cell stack 1 can be divided into multiple groups and can be distributed in multiple battery packs 2.

[0080] In addition, each battery pack 2 may include the battery cell stack 1, flame-retardant cover 21, and flame-retardant component 25 described above.

[0081] In this embodiment, six battery cells 10 are stacked in one battery pack 2. However, this is not a limitation; more or fewer battery cells 10 can be included in one battery pack 2 as needed.

[0082] The flame-retardant cover 21 is attached to the battery cell 10 that constitutes the battery pack 2 in the form of covering the battery cell 10 and forming the shape of the battery pack 2.

[0083] The flame-retardant cover 21 can be formed from a component with flame retardancy or flame-resisting properties. Flame retardancy refers to the ability to prevent the spread of combustion, while flame-resisting refers to the ability to prevent combustion even if ignited. Therefore, the flame-retardant cover 21 can have flammability or non-combustibility to the extent that it itself will not become a factor in the spread of combustion.

[0084] The flame-retardant cover 21 can be made from a continuous sheet, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the flame-retardant cover 21 can be formed in a "∩" shape to provide a heat-insulating space for mounting the battery cell 10. The heat-insulating space is formed by the flame-retardant cover 21 and the lower plate 52, with one flame-retardant cover 21 disposed within each heat-insulating space. Therefore, the number of flame-retardant covers 21 can be the same as the number of heat-insulating spaces.

[0085] The flame-retardant cover 21 can be divided into two side portions 21b that are attached to the two sides of the battery cell stack 1 and an upper portion 21a that is disposed on the upper part of the battery cell stack 1 to connect the two side portions 21b.

[0086] The side portion 21b can be tightly attached to the wide surface of the receiving portion 204 that constitutes both sides of the battery cell stack 1. For example, the side portion 21b can be attached to the receiving portion 204 of the battery cell 10 to contact the surface of the receiving portion 204 of the battery cell 10.

[0087] The upper part 21a is configured to face the upper surface of the battery cell stack 1. At this time, the upper part 21a can be set at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the battery cell stack 1, and the flame-retardant member 25 is inserted and disposed between the upper part 21a and the battery cell stack 1.

[0088] A flame-retardant cover 21 is provided to prevent the spread of flame or heat from the flame to other battery packs 2 when a flame is generated in any one of the battery cells 100. Therefore, in this embodiment, the heat insulation spaces of each battery pack 2 can be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0089] On the other hand, the lower surface of the housing 204 of the battery cell 10 is configured to contact the lower plate 52 via the heat transfer member 29. Therefore, even if the flame-retardant cover 21 is not provided on the lower surface of the housing 204, the lower plate 52 and the heat transfer member 29 can block the spread of flame to the lower part of the housing 204.

[0090] As described above, in this embodiment, each battery pack 2 is distributed within a heat-insulating space formed by the flame-retardant cover 21 and the lower plate 52. Therefore, when a flame is generated in any one battery cell 10, the spread of the flame to other battery packs 2 can be effectively prevented.

[0091] In addition, the lower surface of the battery cell housing 204 is used as a path to dissipate heat from the battery cell 10 to the outside. Therefore, when the flame-retardant cover 21 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 204, the heat dissipation of the battery cell 10 may not be able to proceed smoothly.

[0092] Therefore, in the battery module of this embodiment, the flame-retardant cover 21 is attached to the battery cell stack 1 in such a way that it only covers the three surfaces formed by the upper part and the side surface, excluding the lower surface of the battery cell stack 1.

[0093] In addition, the flame-retardant cover 21 may be provided with at least one vent 22.

[0094] The exhaust port 22 can be formed as a through hole passing through the flame-retardant cover 21, and one or more of them can be provided.

[0095] In this embodiment, the exhaust port 22 can be located on the upper part 21a of the flame-retardant cover 21 to exhaust gas as effectively as possible. Various experiments have confirmed that, as with the battery cell 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the battery cell 10 is configured with three sides sealed and the second sealing part 2022 located at the top, when a flame is generated in the battery cell 10, most of the flame diffuses upwards. At this time, most of the gas generated along with the flame also tends towards the upper part of the battery cell stack 1.

[0096] Therefore, when an exhaust port 22 is formed on the upper part 21a of the battery cell stack 1 in the flame-retardant cover 21, the gas can be further and more effectively discharged to the outside of the battery pack 2.

[0097] In addition, various experiments have shown that most of the flame generated in the battery cell 10 is produced at a location adjacent to the electrode lead 15.

[0098] Therefore, the exhaust port 22 in this embodiment can be centrally located in the area of ​​the upper part 21a facing the electrode lead 15 of the battery cell 10.

[0099] Therefore, the upper part 21a is formed such that its length is longer than that of the side part 21b. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the upper portion 21a may include a protrusion 23 that protrudes a predetermined distance further than the side portion 21b along the direction in which the electrode lead 15 is disposed.

[0100] The protrusion 23 can be configured to protrude further than the first sealing portion 2021 and the electrode lead 15. Additionally, at least one vent 22 can be provided within the protrusion 23.

[0101] This structure effectively prevents flames from being generated and gases from being discharged to the outside of the first sealing part 2021 of the battery cell 10.

[0102] On the other hand, the protrusion 23 may be disposed between the insulating cover 80 and the second plate 40, which will be described below.

[0103] Since the flame-retardant cover 21 needs to block the spread of flame, it can be formed of flame-retardant, non-combustible, or fire-resistant and heat-insulating materials. In this embodiment, the flame-retardant cover 21 can use a sheet including mica. However, it is not limited to this and can use any of various materials such as stainless steel, graphite, graphene, carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP), and non-woven compressible fiber.

[0104] In addition, the flame-retardant cap 21 can also be configured to impart flame-retardant or fire-resistant properties to combustible materials such as fibers by using an agent.

[0105] Furthermore, since the flame-retardant cover 21 is in direct contact with the battery cell 10, it can be formed of an electrically insulating material. Therefore, if the flame-retardant cover 21 is made of stainless steel, an insulating material can be coated on the inner surface of the flame-retardant cover 21 that is in contact with the battery cell 10.

[0106] For example, as the flame-retardant cover 21, materials that can perform fire resistance / insulation by including ceramics, gel-like insulation materials containing sodium silicate coated on a film or materials in the form of sheets made using such insulation materials, fiber fire-resistant insulation materials such as glass fiber or ceramic wool can be used.

[0107] In addition, the flame-retardant cap 21 can also be formed of a rubber material containing expandable graphite, so that when exposed to heat, the graphite expands rapidly to form a heat-insulating layer.

[0108] The flame-retardant component 25 can be disposed between the upper surface of the battery cell stack 1 and the flame-retardant cover 21.

[0109] The interior of the flame-retardant component 25 can be made of a pad or sheet in the form of foam, which is a porous material. Therefore, the flame-retardant component 25 can be disposed between the battery cell stack 1 and the flame-retardant cover 21 in a state of being compressed to a predetermined volume.

[0110] Flame-retardant component 25 is provided to prevent flames from spreading upwards in the battery cell 10 while the second seal 2022 of the battery cell is damaged.

[0111] Therefore, the flame-retardant component 25 of this embodiment can be formed of flame-retardant materials, non-combustible materials, or fire-resistant and heat-insulating materials. For example, the flame-retardant component 25 can be a foam pad containing mica.

[0112] However, this is not the only possibility; various materials can be used, as long as they have flame-retardant properties and are formed in the form of a foam pad. For example, the flame-retardant component can be formed from one of the materials that form the flame-retardant cover 21.

[0113] Since the flame-retardant member 25 in this embodiment is formed in the form of a foam pad, it can block the spread of flames while allowing gas to pass through. Therefore, the gas generated in the battery cell 10 along with the flame can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 2 through the exhaust port 22 of the flame-retardant cover 21 after passing through the flame-retardant member 25.

[0114] Furthermore, since the flame-retardant member 25 of this embodiment is disposed between the battery cell stack 1 and the flame-retardant cover 21 in a state of being compressed to a predetermined volume, the second sealing portion 2022 disposed at the upper end of the battery cell stack 1 can be pressed towards the receiving portion 204 of the battery cell 10 by the restoring force of the flame-retardant member 25, and this state can be maintained continuously.

[0115] Therefore, the second sealing part 2022 can be prevented from easily unfolding or opening due to the increase of gas inside the battery cell 10.

[0116] With the structure described above, in the battery module 100 according to this embodiment, the battery cells 10 are distributed in heat-insulated spaces isolated from each battery pack 2. Therefore, even if a flame is generated in any one of the battery packs 2, it can be prevented from spreading to other battery packs 2. At the same time, the gas generated by the battery cells 10 can be quickly discharged to the outside of the battery packs 2.

[0117] The housing 30 defines the shape of the battery module 100, and the housing 30 can be disposed outside the plurality of battery cells 10 to protect the battery cells 10 from the influence of the external environment. Simultaneously, the housing 30 of this embodiment can also serve as a heat dissipation component for the battery module 100.

[0118] The housing 30 of this embodiment may include: a first plate 50 disposed on one side of the battery cell stack 1; a second plate 40 disposed on the other side of the battery cell 10; and a side cover 60 disposed on the side of the battery cell 10 on which the electrode leads 15 are disposed.

[0119] The first plate 50 may include: a lower plate 52 disposed at the lower part of the battery cell stack 1 to support the lower surface of the battery cell stack 1; and a side plate 58 to support the side of the battery pack 2.

[0120] The side panel 58 can be formed by extending from both sides of the lower panel 52. However, the side panel 58 and the lower panel 52 can also be composed of separate components as needed.

[0121] In this embodiment, the buffer pad 5 is disposed between the side panel 58 and the battery pack 2. However, it is not limited to this and various changes can be made as needed, such as omitting the buffer pad 5 or providing a cooling component.

[0122] The first plate 50 constructed as described above can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as a metal. For example, the first plate 50 can be made of aluminum. However, it is not limited to this; various materials can be used even if they are not metals, as long as the material has thermal conductivity similar to that of a metal.

[0123] The second plate 40 is disposed on the upper part of the battery cell stack 1, facing the upper surface of the battery cell stack 1. Furthermore, the second plate 40 can be configured as a flat plate shape and fastened to the upper end of the side panel 58 of the first plate 50. Therefore, when the second plate 40 is fastened to the first plate 50, both the second plate 40 and the first plate 50 can have the shape of internally hollow tubular members.

[0124] Similar to the first plate 50, the second plate 40 can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity. Specifically, the second plate 40 can be made of materials such as metal, and more specifically, it can be made of aluminum. However, it is not limited to this, and various materials can be used within the scope of the present invention, as long as the material has high thermal conductivity.

[0125] The first plate 50 and the second plate 40 can be joined by welding or other methods. However, they are not limited to this and can be modified in various ways, such as by sliding or by using fastening components such as bolts or screws.

[0126] Additionally, the second plate 40 in this embodiment may include at least one discharge hole 45. The discharge hole 45 can serve as a channel for discharging gas discharged from the battery pack 2 to the outside of the battery module 100. Therefore, its size and shape are not limited as long as gas can be discharged smoothly.

[0127] On the other hand, when the exhaust port 45 of this embodiment is configured to overlap with the exhaust port 22 of the battery pack 2, a portion of the flame diffused through the exhaust port 22 can diffuse to the outside of the housing 30 through the exhaust port 45. Therefore, the battery module 100 of this embodiment is configured such that the exhaust port 45 and the exhaust port 22 of the battery pack 2 do not overlap.

[0128] Here, the expression "not overlapping" means that when the exhaust port 22 of the battery pack 2 is projected onto the second plate 40, the position of the projected exhaust port 22 and the discharge hole 45 do not overlap.

[0129] However, the structure of the present invention is not limited to this. In cases where the spread of flame can be completely blocked by flame-retardant member 25, the exhaust hole 45 and the exhaust port 22 can be arranged to overlap each other.

[0130] In this embodiment, a plurality of discharge holes 45 are arranged at predetermined intervals and are located above the area of ​​the battery cell 10 where the electrode leads 15 are provided. However, this is not a limitation; a single discharge hole 45 with a larger size may also be formed, or it may be additionally provided in various locations. In addition, various modifications can be made to prevent the spread of flame, such as providing mesh or mesh-like members in the discharge hole 45.

[0131] The side cover 60 can be attached to the two sides of the battery cell 10 that are provided with electrode leads 15.

[0132] like Figure 2 As shown, the side cover 60 is integrated with the first plate 50 and together with the first plate 50 and the second plate 40, it forms the overall shape of the battery module 100.

[0133] The side cover 60 can be made of metal and can be manufactured by die casting, but it is not limited to this and can also be formed of insulating materials such as resin.

[0134] The side cover 60 can be attached to the first plate 50 by means of fasteners such as rivets, screws, bolts, or snap fits. However, it is not limited to these methods; it can also be attached to the first plate 50 by sliding, or by means of laser welding, spot welding, or adhesives.

[0135] The busbar assembly 70 can be sandwiched between the side cover 60 and the battery cell stack 1.

[0136] The busbar assembly 70 can be disposed on the side of the battery cell 10 where the electrode leads 15 are provided, and can include an insulating cover 80, a fixing plate 90 and a busbar 86.

[0137] The electrode leads 15 of the battery cell 10 can pass through the insulating cover 80 and be connected to each other on the outside of the insulating cover 80. For this purpose, the insulating cover 80 can be provided with a plurality of through holes 73, in which the electrode leads 15 are inserted.

[0138] Additionally, the insulating cover 80 may be provided with a connection terminal 79 for electrically connecting the battery unit 10 to an external source. The connection terminal 79 may be exposed to the outside through a through hole 92 formed in the fixing plate 90. Therefore, the through hole 92 of the fixing plate 90 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the size and shape of the connection terminal 79.

[0139] In this embodiment, the connection terminal 79 is made of a conductive member and can be electrically connected to at least one busbar 86, or can be coupled to at least one busbar 86.

[0140] Additionally, the insulating cover 80 may include a circuit board (e.g., a PCB) and multiple electronic components packaged within the circuit board, thereby enabling the function of sensing the voltage of the battery cell 10.

[0141] The fixing plate 90 is attached to the outer side of the insulating cover 80. Furthermore, the busbar 86 is disposed between the fixing plate 90 and the insulating cover 80, and the fixing plate 90 is formed to have an area covering the entire busbar 86.

[0142] The fixing plate 90 is provided with a through hole 92, and the connecting terminal 79 is inserted into the through hole 92. The fixing plate 90 can be inserted and attached to the insulating cover 80. However, the structure of the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made, for example, using separate fixing components such as screws to attach the fixing plate 90 and the insulating cover 80.

[0143] The busbar 86 can be formed in the shape of a metal plate and attached to the outer surface of the insulating cover 80. The battery cells 10 can be electrically connected to each other via the busbar 86, and can be electrically connected to external components of the battery module 100 via the busbar 86 and the connection terminal 79.

[0144] For this purpose, the busbar 86 may be provided with multiple through holes 87, and the electrode lead 15 is inserted into the multiple through holes 87. After the electrode lead 15 is inserted into the through holes 87 of the busbar 86, it is joined to the busbar 86 by means of welding or the like. Therefore, at least a portion of the end of the electrode lead 15 can completely pass through the busbar 86 and be exposed to the outside of the busbar 86.

[0145] In this embodiment, the connection terminal 79 is composed of a component manufactured separately from the busbar 86. However, it is not limited to this and the connection terminal 79 can also be integrally formed with the busbar 86. For example, after partially protruding one side of the busbar 86, it can be bent and used as the connection terminal 79, etc., and various other modifications can be made.

[0146] On the other hand, such as Figure 4 As shown, the heat transfer component 29 can be disposed between the lower surface of the battery cell stack 1 and the first plate 50.

[0147] The heat transfer member 29 can be configured to directly contact the lower surface of the battery cell 10. Therefore, the heat transfer member 29 can rapidly transfer the heat generated in the battery cell 10 to the housing 30. For this purpose, the heat transfer member 29 can be made of a material with high thermal conductivity. For example, the heat transfer member 29 can be formed from any of the following: thermal grease, thermal adhesive such as epoxy resin, and thermal pads, but is not limited thereto.

[0148] The heat transfer component 29 can be disposed on the inner surface of the housing 30 in the form of a pad, or it can be formed by coating the inner surface of the housing 30 in a liquid or gel state.

[0149] The heat transfer component 29 in this embodiment can have high insulation properties; for example, it can be made of a material with an insulation strength in the range of 10 to 30 kV / mm.

[0150] Therefore, in the battery module 100 according to this embodiment, even if part of the insulation of the battery cell 10 is damaged, the insulation between the battery cell 10 and the housing 30 can be maintained by the heat transfer member 29 disposed around the battery cell 10.

[0151] In addition, the heat transfer component 29 is configured to fill the space between the battery cell 10 and the housing 30, thereby enhancing the overall rigidity of the battery module 100.

[0152] On the other hand, this embodiment illustrates a case where the heat transfer member 29 is provided only at the lower part of the battery cell 10. However, the structure of the present invention is not limited to this, and the heat transfer member 29 can be additionally provided at various locations as needed.

[0153] In this embodiment, the battery module 100 can dissipate heat generated in the battery cell 10 to the outside through the lower plate 52. Therefore, the lower plate 52 can be used as a heat dissipation component to dissipate heat to the outside.

[0154] In the battery module constructed as described above according to this embodiment, even if any one battery cell catches fire, it prevents other battery cells in the battery pack from being directly exposed to the flame. Furthermore, it suppresses the rapid transfer of heat to other battery cells. Therefore, it can suppress the spread of flames or heat.

[0155] In addition, flame spread can be blocked by flame-retardant components and vents, and gases can be easily discharged to the outside of the battery module.

[0156] Furthermore, since the flame-retardant component presses the sealing part of the battery cell with a predetermined pressure to suppress the movement of the sealing part, even if internal pressure is generated inside the battery cell, the situation where the sealing part easily unfolds can be suppressed.

[0157] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention as described in the claims.

[0158] For example, although the above embodiments illustrate a case where the flame-retardant cover is provided in the form of covering the battery cell stack, various changes can be made, such as covering each battery cell separately.

[0159] Furthermore, the various embodiments can be combined with each other for implementation.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising: At least one battery pack; as well as A heat dissipation component is attached to one side of the battery pack to dissipate heat generated within the battery pack to the outside. The battery pack includes: At least one battery cell stack; At least one flame-retardant cover is incorporated into the battery cell stack and covers both sides and the top of the battery cell stack to form a heat-insulating space; and At least one flame-retardant component, which is made of a porous material, is disposed between the upper surface of the battery cell stack and the flame-retardant cover. The flame-retardant component is disposed between the battery cell and the flame-retardant cover in a state of being compressed to a predetermined volume, and pressure is applied to the battery cell through the restoring force of the flame-retardant component. The battery cell includes: a housing portion for housing electrode assemblies; and a sealing portion disposed along the outer periphery of the housing portion. At least one of the sealing portions is pressed tightly against the receiving portion by the flame-retardant member. The flame-retardant component is formed from a foam pad through which the gas generated by the battery cell passes.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein, The flame-retardant cover includes: The side portion is attached to both sides of the battery cell stack; and The upper part connects the two side parts and is located on the upper part of the battery cell stack. At least one exhaust port is provided in the upper part.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein, The exhaust port is located in the area facing the electrode leads of the battery cell.

4. The battery module according to claim 3, wherein, The upper part includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the direction in which the battery cell is provided with electrode leads. At least one of the exhaust ports is provided in the protrusion.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein, The flame-retardant cover is formed from a thin sheet of mica containing mica.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein, The flame-retardant cover is formed from any one of stainless steel, graphite, graphene, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, glass fiber reinforced plastic, and compressed fiber.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein, The flame-retardant component contains mica.

8. The battery module according to claim 2, further comprising: A housing, wherein the housing is disposed on the upper part of the flame-retardant cover so as to face the upper surface of the flame-retardant cover. The housing is provided with at least one discharge port for discharging the gas formed in the battery cell.

9. The battery module according to claim 8, wherein, The discharge hole is configured not to overlap with the exhaust port.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising: A heat transfer component is disposed between the battery cell and the heat dissipation component.

11. The battery module according to claim 10, wherein, The heat transfer component is formed from any one of thermally conductive grease, thermally conductive adhesive, and thermally conductive pad.

12. A battery module, comprising: A battery cell stack, consisting of one or more battery cells stacked together; A flame-retardant cover is disposed on the upper part of the battery cell stack and is provided with at least one vent. A flame-retardant component, which is a porous material and is disposed between the upper surface of the battery cell stack and the flame-retardant cover in a state of being compressed to a predetermined volume; as well as The housing internally accommodates the battery cell stack, the flame-retardant cover, and the flame-retardant components. The surface of the housing facing the flame-retardant cover has at least one discharge hole. Each battery cell includes: a receiving portion for housing electrode assemblies; and a sealing portion disposed along the outer periphery of the receiving portion. The sealing portion includes a first sealing portion with electrode leads and a second sealing portion without electrode leads. The flame-retardant cover includes: side portions, which are attached to both sides of the battery cell stack; and an upper portion, which connects the two side portions and is disposed facing the second sealing portion. The upper portion includes a protrusion that extends a predetermined distance beyond the side portion along the direction in which the electrode lead is disposed, so as to face the electrode lead. At least one vent is disposed in the protrusion.

13. The battery module according to claim 12, wherein, The discharge hole is configured not to overlap with the exhaust port.

14. The battery module according to claim 12, further comprising: A flame-retardant component, in the form of foam, is disposed between the battery cell stack and the flame-retardant cover to block the spread of flame.

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