Battery module and battery pack including the same

Abstract

A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a first direction; a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack; a first thermally conductive resin layer located between the battery cell stack and a lower portion of the module frame; and a second thermally conductive resin layer located between the battery cell stack and an upper portion of the module frame, wherein at least one first injection hole for injecting the thermally conductive resin is formed in the upper portion of the module frame.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0074749, filed on June 19, 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 module and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly, to a battery module having improved cooling performance and a battery pack including the same. Background Art

[0004] With the development of technology and the growing demand for mobile devices, the demand for batteries as energy sources is rapidly increasing. In particular, secondary batteries are attracting much attention as energy sources for power-driven devices (e.g., electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles) and mobile devices (e.g., mobile phones, digital cameras, laptop computers, and wearable devices).

[0005] Small mobile devices use one or a few battery cells per device, while medium or large devices such as vehicles require high power and large capacity. Therefore, medium or large battery modules with a large number of battery cells electrically connected are used.

[0006] Preferably, medium- or large-sized battery modules are manufactured to have the smallest possible size and weight. To this end, prismatic batteries, pouch-shaped batteries, and the like, which can be stacked with high integration and have a low weight relative to their capacity, are often used as battery cells for medium- or large-sized battery modules. Furthermore, to protect the battery cell stack from external impact, heat, or vibration, the battery module may include a module frame with open front and rear surfaces to accommodate the battery cell stack within its interior space.

[0007] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of a traditional battery module. Figure 2 It shows the composition Figure 1 A perspective view of components of a battery module in a combined state.

[0008] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2A conventional battery module 10 includes a battery cell stack 12 in which a plurality of battery cells 11 are stacked in one direction; a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack 12; end plates 15 for covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack; and a busbar frame 13 formed between the end plates 15 and the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 12. The module frame includes a lower frame for covering the lower surface and both side surfaces of the battery cell stack 12; and an upper plate 40 for covering the upper surface of the battery cell stack 12. Since a thermally conductive resin layer 31 is applied to the bottom surface of the lower frame 30, which covers the lower portion of the battery cell stack 12, the battery module 10 is able to cool the heat generated by the battery cell stack 12.

[0009] At this time, the thermally conductive resin layer 31 can play a role in fixing the battery cell stack 12 in the battery module and transferring heat generated by the battery cell stack 12 to the outside of the battery module 10 .

[0010] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line AA.

[0011] Reference Figure 3 A conventional battery module 10 has a structure that cools the lower portion of the battery cell stack 12, wherein heat generated by the battery cells 10 is transferred toward this lower portion along a first cooling direction D1. However, because the thermally conductive resin layer 31 is formed only at locations corresponding to the lower portion of the battery cell stack 12, the temperature of the battery cells 11 near the thermally conductive resin layer 31 is lower, while the temperature of the battery cells 11 farther from the layer is higher, resulting in temperature differences within the battery cells 11. Specifically, the temperature increases toward the upper portion and both ends of the battery cells 11, and decreases toward the lower portion and center of the battery cells 11.

[0012] Therefore, because the positive and negative electrodes are located at the ends of the battery cells 11, these ends generate relatively more heat than the center during the charge / discharge process of the battery module 10. However, since the thermally conductive resin layer 31 located at the lower portion of the battery cells 11 cools only the heat transferred from the ends to the bottom, it does not cool the heat generated by the ends of the battery cells 11 quickly enough. Specifically, considering that the temperature of the battery cells 11 is one of the factors that limit the output of the battery, a local temperature increase in the battery cells 11 is likely to limit the battery output, and therefore, there is a need to improve this problem. Summary of the Invention

[0013] Technical issues

[0014] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a battery module having improved cooling performance and a battery pack including the battery module.

[0015] The objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above objects, and other objects not described herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

[0016] Technical Solution

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery module can be provided, comprising: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a first direction; a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack; a first thermally conductive resin layer located between the battery cell stack and a lower portion of the module frame; and a second thermally conductive resin layer located between the battery cell stack and an upper portion of the module frame, wherein at least one first injection hole for injecting the thermally conductive resin is formed in the upper portion of the module frame.

[0018] At least one first injection hole may be formed at a position adjacent to an upper end of the module frame.

[0019] The at least one first injection hole includes two or more first injection holes, and the two or more first injection holes may be formed at positions adjacent to both ends of the upper portion of the module frame and at positions opposite to each other.

[0020] The at least one first injection hole includes two or more first injection holes, and the two or more first injection holes may be formed at positions adjacent to one end of the upper portion of the module frame and positioned apart from each other in the same direction as the first direction.

[0021] The module frame includes a U-shaped frame and an upper plate covering the battery cell stack mounted on the U-shaped frame, the U-shaped frame includes a bottom and two side surface portions connected to both sides of the bottom, and the battery module also includes at least two blocking pads, the at least two blocking pads are located on the lower surface of the upper plate, wherein at least one first injection hole can be located between the at least two blocking pads.

[0022] The second thermally conductive resin layer may be formed at a position corresponding to a region between the at least two blocking pads.

[0023] The blocking gasket may extend in the same direction as the first direction, and the blocking gasket may protrude in a direction toward the battery cell stack.

[0024] The thermally conductive resin layer may be formed by coating a thermally conductive resin on the bottom of the U-shaped frame.

[0025] The battery module includes a module frame including upper and lower portions corresponding to each other and two side portions corresponding to each other, the module frame accommodates the battery cell stack, and the at least one second injection hole may be located at a lower portion of the module frame.

[0026] The thermally conductive resin layer may be formed by injecting a thermally conductive resin into the at least one second injection hole.

[0027] At least one second injection hole may be formed at a position corresponding to a central area of ​​the lower surface of the module frame.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery pack including a battery module may be provided.

[0029] Beneficial effects

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a thermally conductive resin layer may be formed at a position corresponding to an upper portion of a battery cell stack, thereby suppressing a local temperature increase inside the battery cell and reducing a temperature difference.

[0031] The effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described effects, and additional 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

[0032] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of a traditional battery module.

[0033] Figure 2 It shows the composition Figure 1 A perspective view of components of a battery module in a combined state.

[0034] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line AA.

[0035] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 5 It shows the composition Figure 4 A perspective view of components of a battery module in a combined state.

[0037] Figure 6 It shows Figure 4 An oblique view of the inner surface of the upper plate of the module frame of the battery module.

[0038] Figure 7 It is shown from Figure 4 A perspective view of a battery module with the upper portion of the module frame removed.

[0039] Figure 8 It is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line BB.

[0040] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 10 It shows Figure 9 An oblique view of the bottom surface of the battery module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement these embodiments. The present disclosure can be modified in various ways and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0043] Parts irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearly describe the present disclosure, and the same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout the specification.

[0044] In addition, in the drawings, for the convenience of description, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily shown, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the size and thickness shown in the drawings. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, regions, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, the thickness of certain layers and regions is exaggerated for the convenience of description.

[0045] In addition, throughout the specification, when a part is referred to as “including” a certain component, unless otherwise specified, it means that the part may further include other components, and does not exclude the other components.

[0046] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when referred to as a “plane”, it means when the target portion is viewed from the upper side, and when referred to as a “cross section”, it means when the target portion is viewed from the side of a vertically cut cross section.

[0047] Hereinafter, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. However, the description herein is based on the front surface of the battery module and the rear surface, but is not limited thereto, and even in the case of the rear surface, the same or similar content may be described.

[0048] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 It shows the composition Figure 4 A perspective view of components of a battery module in a combined state.

[0049] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5The battery module 100 according to this embodiment includes: a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked in a first direction (y-axis); a module frame 200 that accommodates the battery cell stack 120; end plates 150 located on the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120; and a busbar frame 130 located between the battery cell stack 120 and the end plates 150. The module frame 200 includes a U-shaped frame 300 with open top, front, and rear surfaces, and an upper plate 400 that covers the upper portion of the battery cell stack 120.

[0050] The battery module 100 according to this embodiment can be configured such that the first thermally conductive resin layer 310 is located between the battery cell stack 120 and the bottom surface of the U-shaped frame 300. In the first thermally conductive resin layer 310, a thermally conductive resin can be applied to the bottom surface of the U-shaped frame 300 before the battery cell stack 120 is mounted on the bottom surface of the U-shaped frame 300. Thereafter, the thermally conductive resin can be cured to form the first thermally conductive resin layer 310. Therefore, the first thermally conductive resin layer 310 can secure the battery cell stack 120 and transfer heat generated by the battery cells 110 to the bottom of the battery module 100.

[0051] Figure 6 It shows Figure 4 An oblique view of the inner surface of the upper plate of the module frame of the battery module. Figure 7 It is shown from Figure 4 A perspective view of a battery module with the upper portion of the module frame removed.

[0052] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 In the battery module 100 according to this embodiment, the upper plate 400 may be formed with at least one first injection hole 450, so that the thermally conductive resin may be injected into the first injection hole 450. Thereafter, the thermally conductive resin may be cured to form the second thermally conductive resin layer 160.

[0053] The first injection hole 450 may be formed on the upper plate 400. The first injection hole 450 may be formed at a position adjacent to an end of the upper plate 400. The first injection hole 450 may include at least two injection holes, and the at least two injection holes are adjacent to both ends of the upper plate 400 and may be formed at positions opposite to each other. In addition, the first injection hole 450 may be formed at one end of the upper plate 400, with at least two injection holes spaced apart from each other. For example, the first injection hole 450 may be formed at a position close to both ends of the upper plate 400, and the at least two first injection holes 450 may be spaced apart from each other.

[0054] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7, the first injection hole 450 can be formed at a position corresponding to the position of the battery cell 110 with the lowest cooling efficiency. Thus, the second thermally conductive resin layer 160, formed by injecting the thermally conductive resin into the first injection hole 450, can be formed at a position corresponding to the position of the battery cell 110 with the lowest cooling efficiency. Therefore, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment can improve the cooling efficiency of the battery cells 110 and reduce the temperature difference depending on the position of the battery cells 110.

[0055] When the first injection hole 450 is formed at one end of the upper plate 400 and includes at least two spaced-apart injection holes, the at least two injection holes can be spaced apart in a direction corresponding to the first direction (y-axis). Therefore, compared to a structure in which the second thermally conductive resin layer 160 is injected and formed through a single injection hole, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment can uniformly inject the second thermally conductive resin layer 160 in a direction corresponding to the first direction. As a result, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment uniformly improves the cooling efficiency of the battery cells 110 regardless of their location in the battery cell stack, and also uniformly reduces temperature differences depending on the location of the battery cells 110.

[0056] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7 The battery module 100 according to this embodiment can be configured such that at least two blocking pads 470 are located on the lower surface of the upper plate 400. The at least two blocking pads 470 can extend in a direction corresponding to the first direction (y-axis). The at least two blocking pads 470 can protrude in a direction corresponding to the direction toward the battery cell stack 120 (z-axis). Preferably, the at least two blocking pads 470 protrude in a direction corresponding to the direction toward the battery cell stack (z-axis) and can contact the upper portion of the battery cell stack. Therefore, the blocking pads 470 can prevent the thermally conductive resin injected into the first injection hole 450 from being applied to the area outside the blocking pads 470.

[0057] The first injection hole 450 may be located between at least two blocking pads 470. Thus, the second thermally conductive resin layer 160 may be formed at a position corresponding to the region between the at least two blocking pads 470. That is, the blocking pads 470 may regulate the region in which the second thermally conductive resin layer 160 may be formed, and may also prevent the thermally conductive resin injected into the first injection hole 450 from being injected into a region where the thermally conductive resin does not need to be injected.

[0058] As an example, the region corresponding to the middle portion of the battery cell 110 is sufficiently cooled using only the thermally conductive resin layer 31 located at the lower portion. This is because, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, it is not necessary to form the second thermally conductive resin layer 160 over the region corresponding to the middle portion of the battery cell 110. Therefore, the blocking pad 470 is preferably formed adjacent to the regions corresponding to both ends of the battery cell 110.

[0059] Furthermore, the blocking gasket 470 limits the area where the thermally conductive resin is applied, so that the thermally conductive resin can be evenly applied to the desired location without requiring additional disassembly and assembly steps of the battery module 100. Furthermore, the blocking gasket 470 can reduce the cost loss caused by injecting the thermally conductive resin into an area where the thermally conductive resin is not required.

[0060] Figure 8 It is along Figure 4 The cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line BB. Figures 4 to 8 The first thermally conductive resin layer 310 contacts the lower portion of the battery cell stack 120 included in the battery module 100, and at least the central region of the upper portion of the battery cell stack 120 may contact the second thermally conductive resin layer 160. Thus, unlike the conventional battery module 10, the battery module 100 has a structure that cools both the upper and lower portions of the battery cell stack 120. This structure is a structure in which heat generated by the battery cell stack 120 is transferred along a second cooling direction D2 directed toward the upper and lower portions.

[0061] Thus, unlike conventional battery modules 10, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment can transfer generated heat toward the upper portion and both ends of the battery cell stack 120 through the second thermally conductive resin layer 160. Thus, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment can suppress localized temperature increases at both ends of the battery cells 110 and reduce temperature differences among the battery cells. Furthermore, it can prevent the output of the battery including the battery cells 110 from being restricted due to temperature increases.

[0062] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 10 It shows Figure 9 An oblique view of the bottom surface of the battery module.

[0063] Reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 The battery module 101 according to this embodiment is different from the reference Figures 5 to 8 The battery modules 100 described are partially similar, and only the different parts are described in detail.

[0064] The battery module 101 according to the present embodiment includes a module frame 500 , and the module frame 500 includes a module frame (mono frame) having upper and lower portions corresponding to each other and two side portions corresponding to each other accommodating the battery cell stack 120 .

[0065] The battery module 101 according to the present embodiment may be configured such that at least one first injection hole 550 is formed in the upper portion of the module frame 500, and details of the first injection hole 550 are similar to those of the reference Figures 5 to 8 The details of the first injection hole 450 described above are the same. In addition, the battery module 101 according to the present embodiment may be configured such that at least one second injection hole 560 is formed in the lower portion of the module frame 500. Here, the at least one second injection hole 560 may be formed at a position corresponding to the central area of ​​the lower portion of the module frame 500.

[0066] Furthermore, the battery module 101 according to the present embodiment may be configured such that at least one inspection hole 570 is formed in the lower portion of the module frame 500. The at least one inspection hole 570 may be formed at a position adjacent to the lower end portion of the module frame 500 and may be formed to be spaced apart from the second injection hole 560. Thus, when more than a required amount of thermally conductive resin is injected through the second injection hole 560, the thermally conductive resin may be discharged to the outside of the battery module 101 via the inspection hole 570, thereby adjusting the injection amount.

[0067] However, the module frame 500 is not limited thereto and may be replaced with a frame having a shape combining two L-shaped frames. Also in this case, similar to the U-shaped frame, the first injection holes 450 and 550 may be formed in the upper portion of the module frame 500, and the thermal conductive resin may be pre-coated on the lower portion of the module frame 500, or the thermal conductive resin may be injected through a separate injection hole.

[0068] Meanwhile, one or more battery modules according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be packaged in a packaging case to form a battery pack.

[0069] The battery modules and battery packs described above can be applied to various devices. These devices can be applied to vehicles (e.g., electric bicycles, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Instead, the present disclosure can be applied to various devices that can use the battery modules and battery packs including the same, which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0070] Although the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concepts of the present disclosure defined in the appended claims also fall within the scope of rights.

[0071] [Description of Reference Numerals]

[0072] 100: Battery module

[0073] 110: Battery cell

[0074] 120: Battery cell stack

[0075] 300: U-shaped frame

[0076] 400: On the board

[0077] 500: One-piece frame

Claims

1. A battery module comprising: a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a first direction; a module frame for accommodating the battery cell stack; a first thermally conductive resin layer located between the battery cell stack and a lower portion of the module frame; as well as a second thermally conductive resin layer located between the battery cell stack and the upper portion of the module frame; wherein at least one first injection hole for injecting a thermally conductive resin is formed in the upper portion of the module frame, wherein at least two blocking pads are located on the lower surface of the upper plate of the module frame, wherein the at least one first injection hole is located between the at least two blocking pads, Wherein, the blocking pad extends in the same direction as the first direction.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one first injection hole is formed at a position adjacent to an upper end of the module frame.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one first injection hole includes two or more first injection holes formed at positions adjacent to both ends of the upper portion of the module frame and at positions opposite to each other.

4. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one first injection hole includes two or more first injection holes formed at positions adjacent to one end of the upper portion of the module frame and positioned spaced apart from each other in the same direction as the first direction.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The module frame includes a U-shaped frame including a bottom and two side surface portions connected to both sides of the bottom, and the upper plate covering the battery cell stack mounted on the U-shaped frame.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein: The second thermally conductive resin layer is formed at a position corresponding to a region between the at least two blocking pads.

7. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein: The blocking pad protrudes in a direction toward the battery cell stack.

8. The battery module according to claim 5, wherein: The first thermally conductive resin layer is formed by coating a thermally conductive resin on the bottom of the U-shaped frame.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein: The battery module includes a module frame including an upper portion and a lower portion corresponding to each other and two side portions corresponding to each other, the module frame accommodating the battery cell stack, and At least one second injection hole is located at the lower portion of the module frame.

10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein: The first thermally conductive resin layer is formed by injecting a thermally conductive resin into the at least one second injection hole.

11. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein: The at least one second injection hole is formed at a position corresponding to a central area of ​​a lower surface of the module frame. 12 . A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 1 .

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