Battery pack and device including the battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of radiators formed below each of the plurality of battery modules; a first flow path for supplying coolant to each of the plurality of radiators; and a second flow path for discharging the coolant circulating in the plurality of radiators, wherein the coolant supplied to each of the plurality of radiators circulates in a space formed between the radiator and a lower surface of a module frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0045308, filed on April 14, 2020, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and a device including the battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack with an integrated cooling structure and a device including the battery pack. Background Art

[0004] Secondary batteries have attracted a lot of attention as energy sources in various products such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. Secondary batteries are a powerful energy resource that can replace the use of existing products using fossil fuels, and because secondary batteries do not produce byproducts due to energy use, they are attracting attention as environmentally friendly energy sources.

[0005] Recently, with the increasing necessity of large-capacity secondary battery structures, including the use of secondary batteries as energy storage sources, there is a growing demand for multi-module structured battery packs, which are components of battery modules in which multiple secondary batteries are connected in series / parallel.

[0006] Meanwhile, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series / parallel to construct a battery pack, a method of constructing a battery module composed of at least one battery cell and then adding other components to the at least one battery module to construct a battery pack is common.

[0007] The battery pack includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a plurality of battery modules, each of which includes a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack.

[0008] Figure 1 is a view showing a conventional battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are placed.

[0009] refer to Figure 1 , a conventional battery pack includes a structure in which a coolant flows along a flow path 20 to the lower side of a plurality of battery modules 10 accommodated in a lower housing 30. Figure 1In the case of the battery pack structure shown, the number of battery modules is relatively large, so it is difficult to control the temperature of each battery module individually, and the battery pack structure is simply configured so that the coolant flows to the lower side of the battery module, whereby temperature deviation may occur between the battery module located near the inflow part of the coolant and the battery module far from the inflow part of the coolant and between the battery cells located inside the battery module. When the temperature deviation occurs between the battery modules and between the battery cells, the life of the secondary battery may be shortened. Summary of the invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery pack having an integrated cooling structure and a device including the battery pack.

[0012] The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned objects, and other objects not described herein should be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

[0013] Technical Solution

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery modules; a plurality of radiators formed on the lower side of each of the plurality of battery modules; a first flow path that supplies coolant to each of the plurality of radiators; and a second flow path that discharges the coolant circulating in the plurality of radiators, wherein the coolant supplied to each radiator circulates in spaces respectively formed between the radiator and a lower surface of a module frame.

[0015] The first flow path may include: an inlet portion through which the coolant flows in; a main supply flow path portion that guides the inflowing coolant; and a plurality of sub-supply flow path portions that respectively supply the coolant that has passed through the main supply flow path portion to the radiator, and the second flow path may include: an outlet portion through which the coolant flows out; a main discharge flow path portion that guides the coolant to the outlet portion; and a sub-discharge flow path portion that discharges the coolant circulating in the radiator to the main discharge flow path portion.

[0016] The auxiliary supply flow path portion and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion may be formed on the lower side of the radiator, the auxiliary supply flow path portion may allow the coolant to be supplied upward to the space between the radiator and the bottom of the module frame, and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion may allow the coolant to be discharged downward from the space between the radiator and the bottom of the module frame.

[0017] The main supply flow path portion and the main exhaust flow path portion may be respectively disposed outside the plurality of battery modules, the sub-supply flow path portion may be formed to extend toward the main exhaust flow path portion, and the sub-exhaust flow path portion may be formed to extend toward the main supply flow path portion.

[0018] The auxiliary supply flow path portion may be formed to extend in such a manner that the auxiliary supply flow path portion completely passes through at least one radiator to supply coolant, and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion may be formed to extend in such a manner that the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion completely passes through at least one radiator that discharges coolant to the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion.

[0019] The first flow path and the second flow path may be disposed across a lower center portion of the battery module stack.

[0020] The plurality of battery modules may be disposed in at least one row, and the sub-supply flow path portion and the sub-exhaust flow path portion may be disposed in each row.

[0021] The plurality of battery modules may be configured such that one battery module is placed in a portion adjacent to a portion where the inlet portion and the outlet portion are formed, and then the plurality of battery modules may be placed in two rows along the main supply flow path portion and the main exhaust flow path portion.

[0022] The battery pack may further include: a lower housing accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path; and an upper housing covering the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path from an upper side.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device including the battery pack is provided.

[0024] Beneficial effects

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the structure of a battery pack including a large-area battery module having an increased number of battery cells, a coolant is supplied to a radiator separately formed in each battery module, thereby being able to minimize a temperature deviation between the battery modules.

[0026] In addition, by integrating the module frame and the heat sink into a cooling structure, the cooling structure can be simplified.

[0027] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and further other effects not described above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 is a view showing a conventional battery pack in which a plurality of battery modules are placed;

[0029] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module and a heat sink coupled to the battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0031] Figure 4 is a more detailed illustration of the formation of Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of a structure of a plurality of battery modules and a heat sink disposed on the lower side of the corresponding battery modules;

[0032] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 an enlarged view of section A of ; and

[0033] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described below are schematically described to help understand the present disclosure, and various modifications can be made to the present disclosure to implement the present disclosure differently from the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, in the description of the present disclosure, when it is determined that the specific description and illustration of a well-known function or constituent element may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure, the specific description and illustration will be omitted. In addition, in order to help understand the present disclosure, the drawings are not shown based on actual proportions, but some parts of the constituent elements may be exaggerated in size.

[0035] As used herein, terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various components, and these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component.

[0036] In addition, the terms used herein are only used to describe specific exemplary embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless they have clear opposite meanings in the context. It should be understood that as used herein, the terms "include", "comprise" and "have" are intended to indicate the presence of the described features, numbers, steps, movements, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof, but it should be understood that these terms do not exclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, movements, constituent elements, parts or combinations thereof.

[0037] Below, we will refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 A battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and structures of a heat sink, a first flow path, and a second flow path coupled to the battery module are described.

[0038] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module and a heat sink coupled to the battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a more detailed illustration of the formation of Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of a structure of a plurality of battery modules and a heat sink disposed on the lower sides of the corresponding battery modules. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged view of section A of FIG.

[0039] refer to Figures 2 to 5 , a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a battery cell stack; a battery module 100 in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; and a plurality of heat sinks 400 formed on the lower side of each of the plurality of battery modules 100. In addition, the battery pack includes: a first flow path 200 that supplies a coolant to each of the plurality of heat sinks 400; and a second flow path 300 that discharges the coolant circulating in the plurality of heat sinks 400. The coolant supplied to each heat sink 400 circulates in spaces respectively formed between the heat sink 400 and the bottom of the plurality of module frames 100.

[0040] The plurality of battery modules 100 may respectively include: a battery cell stack 110 in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; and a module frame 120 for accommodating the battery cell stack 110. The battery cell according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a secondary battery and may be configured as a pouch-type secondary battery. Such a battery cell may be composed of a plurality of cells, and the plurality of battery cells may be stacked together so as to be electrically connected to each other, thereby forming a battery cell stack 110. Each of the plurality of battery cells may include an electrode assembly, a cell housing, and an electrode lead protruding from the electrode assembly.

[0041] The module frame 120 can accommodate the battery cell stack 110. The module frame 120 may include a lower frame 121 for covering the lower surface and both side surfaces of the battery cell stack 110, and an upper plate 122 for covering the upper surface of the battery cell stack 110. However, the structure of the module frame 120 is not limited thereto, and may be a single frame shape surrounded by four surfaces except for the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 110.

[0042] The battery module 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an end plate 130 covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 110. The battery cell stack 110 accommodated inside can be physically protected by the module frame 120 described above.

[0043] The radiator 400 may be formed at a lower portion of the module frame 120. The radiator 400 may include a lower plate 410 forming a skeleton of the radiator 400 and contacting a bottom of the module frame 120, an inlet 420 formed on one side of the radiator 400 to supply a coolant from the outside to the inside of the radiator 400, an outlet 430 formed on one side of the radiator so that the coolant flowing inside the radiator flows to the outside of the radiator, and a flow path portion 440 connecting the inlet 420 and the outlet 430 and allowing the coolant to flow.

[0044] Specifically, the flow path portion 440 may refer to a structure in which the lower plate 410 in contact with the lower surface of the lower frame 121 (which corresponds to the bottom of the module frame 120) is formed to be recessed downward. The upper side of the flow path portion 440 is open to form a flow path between the flow path portion 440 and the bottom of the module frame 120, and the coolant can flow through the flow path. In other words, the battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can have an integrated cooling structure in which the bottom of the module frame 120 is used to correspond to the upper plate of the radiator 400.

[0045] Conventionally, a structure in which the coolant flows is separately formed on the lower side of the module frame, so that the module frame has no choice but to be cooled indirectly. Therefore, the cooling efficiency is reduced, and the problem caused by forming a separate coolant flow structure is that this causes the space utilization rate of the battery module and the battery pack on which the battery module is mounted to deteriorate. However, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, by adopting a structure in which the radiator 400 is integrated with the lower portion of the module frame 120, the coolant can flow directly between the flow path portion 440 and the bottom of the module frame 120, thereby increasing the cooling efficiency through direct cooling, and by the structure in which the radiator 400 is integrated with the bottom of the module frame 120, the space utilization rate of the battery module and the battery pack on which the battery module is mounted can be further improved.

[0046] The lower plate 410 can be formed to correspond to the bottom of the module frame 120. The bottom of the module frame 120 corresponds to the bottom of the lower frame 121, the lower plate 410 and the bottom of the lower frame 121 can be coupled by welding, and the strength of the entire battery module can be enhanced by the lower plate 410. The bottom of the lower plate 410 and the lower frame 121 are sealed by welding coupling, whereby the coolant can flow without leakage in the flow path part 440 formed inside the lower plate 410.

[0047] refer to Figure 5 , the inlet 420 and the outlet 430 can both be formed on one side of the radiator 400. More specifically, the inlet 420 and the outlet 430 can both be formed on one side of the radiator 400 where the end plate 130 is provided. The inlet 420 and the outlet 430 can be respectively located at both ends of one side of the radiator 400. A coolant supply part and a coolant discharge part are formed on the lower side or the upper side of the radiator 400 so that the coolant supplied through the coolant supply part can flow into the inlet 420, and the coolant flowing out through the outlet 430 can be discharged to the outside through the coolant discharge part.

[0048] The flow path portion 440 may be formed to cover the bottom of the module frame 120 while being bent. The flow path portion 440 is formed in most of the bottom of the module frame 120 except for a portion where the lower plate 410 makes contact with the bottom of the module frame 120, whereby all of the battery cell stack 110 arranged to occupy most of the bottom of the module frame 120 can be uniformly cooled.

[0049] The bent portion of the flow path portion 440 may be formed by a curved surface. When an angled edge portion is formed in the flow path portion 440, the flow of the coolant will likely stagnate at the angled edge portion, thereby increasing temperature deviation and pressure drop. In this regard, if the bent portion is processed using a curved surface as in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the flow of the coolant can be naturally performed.

[0050] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of heat sinks 400 may be formed on the lower side of each of the plurality of battery modules 100. The first flow path 200 supplies coolant to each of the plurality of heat sinks 400, and the second flow path 300 discharges the coolant circulating in the plurality of heat sinks 400 to the outside.

[0051] Conventionally, flow paths for coolant flow are separately formed on the lower sides of the plurality of battery modules, and the separately formed flow paths are disposed to pass through the lower sides of the plurality of battery modules collectively. However, in the conventional case, there is a problem that it is difficult to control the temperature of each battery module, and a temperature deviation occurs between the battery modules and battery cells located close to the coolant inflow point and the battery modules and battery cells located far from the coolant inflow point, so that the life of the battery module may be shortened.

[0052] Accordingly, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a structure is adopted in which a plurality of radiators 400 are integrally formed on the lower side of each of a plurality of battery modules 100, and a coolant is supplied to each of the plurality of radiators 400 through the first flow path 200, thereby minimizing the temperature deviation between the battery modules and the battery cells and increasing the life of the battery modules and the battery pack.

[0053] In addition, as described in the embodiments of the present disclosure, when the number of stacked battery cells is greater than Figure 1 The number of battery cells (rather than having a ratio Figure 1 In the case of large-area modules (large size of battery modules), Figure 1 Compared with the number of battery modules shown, the number of battery modules inserted into a battery pack of the same volume can be reduced, thereby further simplifying the coolant supply structure supplied to each battery module.

[0054] Below, we will refer to Figures 3 to 5 A coolant supply and discharge structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is described.

[0055] Figure 4 is a more detailed illustration of the formation of Figure 3An exploded perspective view of a structure of a plurality of battery modules and a heat sink disposed on the lower sides of the corresponding battery modules. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An enlarged view of section A of FIG.

[0056] refer to Figures 3 to 5 , the first flow path 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: an inlet portion 210 through which the coolant flows in; a main supply flow path portion 220 that guides the inflowing coolant; and a plurality of sub-supply flow path portions 230 that respectively supply the coolant that has passed through the main supply flow path portion 220 to the radiator 400. In addition, the second flow path 300 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include: an outlet portion 310 through which the coolant flows out; a main discharge flow path portion 320 that guides the coolant to the outlet portion 310; and a sub-discharge flow path portion 330 that discharges the coolant circulating in the radiator 400 to the main discharge flow path portion 320.

[0057] At this time, the auxiliary supply flow path portion 230 and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion 330 can be formed on the lower side of the radiator 400, the auxiliary supply flow path portion 230 allows the coolant to be supplied upward to the space between the radiator 400 and the bottom of the module frame 120, and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion 330 allows the coolant to be discharged downward from the space between the radiator 400 and the bottom of the module frame.

[0058] As a result, the coolant that has flowed in through the inlet portion 210 sequentially passes through the main supply flow path portion 220 and the sub-supply flow path portion 230, and is respectively supplied through the inlet 420 of the radiator 400 located below the battery module 100. The supplied coolant circulates inside the radiator 400 through the flow path 440 formed in each radiator 400, and the coolant after completing the circulation sequentially passes through the sub-discharge flow path portion 330 and the main discharge flow path portion 320 through the outlet 430 of the radiator 400, and is discharged to the outside of the battery pack through the outlet 310.

[0059] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the main supply flow path portion 220 and the main exhaust flow path portion 320 may be respectively disposed outside the plurality of battery modules 100, the auxiliary supply flow path portion 230 may be formed to extend toward the main exhaust flow path portion 320, and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion 330 may be formed to extend toward the main supply flow path portion 220. At this time, the auxiliary supply flow path portion 230 is extendedly formed so that the auxiliary supply flow path portion 230 completely passes through at least one radiator 400 for supplying coolant, and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion 330 may be extendedly formed to completely pass through at least one radiator 400 that discharges coolant to the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion 330.

[0060] The sub-supply flow path portion 230 is extendedly formed to pass through the inlet 420 of the radiator 400 and reach a portion where the main discharge flow path portion 320 is located, thereby being able to support the load of at least one radiator 400 and the battery module 100 located on the upper side.

[0061] A plurality of battery modules 100 may be arranged in at least one row, and the auxiliary supply flow path portion 230 and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion 330 may be arranged in each row. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of battery modules 100 may be configured such that one battery module 100 is arranged in a portion adjacent to a portion where the inlet portion 210 and the outlet portion 310 are formed, and then, a plurality of battery modules may be arranged in two rows along the main supply flow path portion 220 and the main exhaust flow path portion 320.

[0062] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery pack of the present disclosure may further include: a lower outer cover 500, which accommodates a plurality of battery modules 100, a first flow path 200, and a second flow path 300; and an upper outer cover 600, which covers the plurality of battery modules 100, the first flow path 200, and the second flow path 300 from the upper side.

[0063] Below, we will refer to Figure 6 A battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present disclosure is described.

[0064] refer to Figure 6 , the battery pack according to the modified embodiment of the present disclosure can be arranged so that the first flow path 200 and the second flow path 300 span the lower center portion of the battery module assembly. In this way, a battery pack having an arrangement structure of the first flow path 200 and the second flow path 300 modified in various forms can be realized.

[0065] The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have a structure in which one or more battery modules according to the embodiment are gathered and packaged together with a battery management system (BMS) and a cooling device that controls and manages temperature, voltage, etc. of the battery.

[0066] The battery pack can be applied to various devices. Such a device can be applied to a vehicle device such as an electric bicycle, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices that can use a battery module, which also belongs to the scope of the present disclosure.

[0067] Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can design many other modifications and embodiments that will fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention described in the appended claims. In addition, these modified embodiments should not be understood separately from the technical spirit or viewpoints of the present disclosure.

[0068] Description of Reference Numerals

[0069] 100: Battery module

[0070] 110: Battery cell stack

[0071] 120: Module Framework

[0072] 121: Lower frame

[0073] 122: On the board

[0074] 130: End plate

[0075] 200: First flow path

[0076] 210: Import Department

[0077] 220: Main supply flow path section

[0078] 230: Auxiliary supply flow path portion

[0079] 300: Second flow path

[0080] 310: Export Department

[0081] 320: Main discharge flow path section

[0082] 330: Auxiliary discharge flow path portion

[0083] 400: Radiator

[0084] 500: Lower cover

[0085] 600: Upper cover

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: A plurality of battery modules, each of the plurality of battery modules comprising: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; and A module frame, the module frame is used to accommodate the battery cell stack; a plurality of heat sinks formed on a lower side of each of the plurality of battery modules; a first flow path that supplies coolant to each of the plurality of radiators; and a second flow path that discharges the coolant circulating in the plurality of radiators, wherein the coolant supplied to each of the radiators circulates in spaces respectively formed between the radiators and the lower surface of the module frame, Wherein, each of the plurality of heat sinks comprises: an upper plate corresponding to a bottom of the module frame; and a lower plate formed to be in contact with the bottom of the module frame and to be recessed downward, wherein the upper plate and the lower plate are sealed to form the space, whereby the coolant circulates in the space, The first flow path comprises: an inlet portion through which the coolant flows; a main supply flow path portion that guides the inflowing coolant; and a plurality of sub-supply flow path portions that respectively supply the coolant having passed through the main supply flow path portion to the radiator, and The second flow path comprises: an outlet portion through which the coolant flows out; a main exhaust flow path portion that directs the coolant to the outlet portion; and a secondary discharge flow path portion that discharges the coolant circulating in the radiator to the primary discharge flow path portion, wherein the sub-supply flow path portion is formed to extend toward the main discharge flow path portion, and the sub-discharge flow path portion is formed to extend toward the main supply flow path portion, The auxiliary supply flow path portion is formed to extend in such a manner that the auxiliary supply flow path portion completely passes through at least one radiator to supply coolant, and the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion is formed to extend in such a manner that the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion completely passes through at least one radiator that discharges the coolant to the auxiliary exhaust flow path portion, thereby being able to support the load of at least one radiator and the battery module located on the upper side.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The sub-supply flow path portion and the sub-drain flow path portion are formed on a lower side of the radiator, The sub-supply flow path portion allows the coolant to be supplied upward to a space between the radiator and the bottom of the module frame, and The sub-drain flow path portion allows the coolant to be discharged downward from the space between the radiator and the bottom of the module frame.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The main supply flow path portion and the main exhaust flow path portion are disposed outside the plurality of battery modules, respectively.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The first flow path and the second flow path are disposed across lower center portions of the plurality of battery modules.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of battery modules are disposed in at least one row, and the sub-supply flow path portion and the sub-exhaust flow path portion are disposed in each row.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein: The plurality of battery modules are configured such that: one battery module is placed in a portion adjacent to a portion where the inlet portion and the outlet portion are formed, and then, the plurality of battery modules are placed in two rows along the main supply flow path portion and the main exhaust flow path portion.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: a lower housing accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path; and an upper outer cover covering the plurality of battery modules, the first flow path, and the second flow path from an upper side.

8. A device comprising the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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