Battery pack with improved venting path

Abstract

A battery pack according to the present disclosure includes: a plurality of battery modules each including a battery cell, a module case accommodating the battery cell, and an exhaust passage communicating with an inside of the module case; and a battery pack case accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the battery pack case including a top plate covering an upper portion of the plurality of battery modules, the top plate having an exhaust port, wherein the exhaust passage of each of the battery modules communicates with the exhaust port.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a battery pack, and more specifically, to a battery pack having an exhaust path that allows the exhaust gas to flow safely and efficiently outside the battery pack housing when gas is generated from the battery module.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0080408, filed on June 21, 2021, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] Secondary batteries are gaining attention as a new environmentally friendly and energy-efficient energy source due to advantages such as significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels and producing no byproducts from energy use.

[0004] Therefore, secondary batteries are increasingly used in a wider range of device applications. For example, secondary batteries are not only widely used as a power source for multifunctional small products such as wireless mobile devices or wearable devices, but also as an energy or energy storage system (ESS) for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles proposed as alternatives to gasoline and diesel vehicles.

[0005] In recent years, lithium-ion batteries have been widely used, with an operating voltage of approximately 2.5V to 4.5V for a single lithium-ion battery. Therefore, electric vehicles or energy storage systems that require high capacity and high output use battery packs as their power source. Battery packs consist of battery modules connected in series and / or in parallel, and each battery module includes lithium-ion batteries connected in series and / or in parallel.

[0006] Depending on the output or capacity of the battery pack required by the electric vehicle, the number of lithium secondary batteries in the battery module or the number of battery modules in the battery pack can be increased.

[0007] However, when a battery pack includes a large number of lithium-ion batteries, it can cause serious damage in the event of a fire or explosion.

[0008] For example, when an accident occurs in any battery module, such as a short circuit between lithium secondary batteries or an abnormal temperature rise, a large amount of exhaust gas is generated in the lithium secondary batteries. In addition to the exhaust gas, high-temperature sparks, including those from electrode active materials and aluminum particles, can be exacerbated when the degradation is severe. In this situation, the exhaust gas and high-temperature sparks can cause thermal damage to adjacent battery modules, and the risk of additional accidents to other battery modules is very high.

[0009] Therefore, when exhaust gases and high-temperature sparks are generated in any battery module, it is necessary to develop an exhaust path that allows the exhaust gases to flow quickly and safely outside the battery pack while minimizing the impact on other battery modules. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] This disclosure is designed to address the aforementioned problems, and therefore aims to provide a battery pack with an exhaust path that minimizes the impact on other battery modules when exhaust gases or sparks are generated in any battery module.

[0012] The technical problems to be solved by this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand these and other problems from the following detailed description.

[0013] Technical solution

[0014] According to this disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery modules, each battery module including a battery cell, a module housing for accommodating the battery cell, and an exhaust channel communicating with the interior of the module housing; and a battery pack housing for accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the battery pack housing including a top plate covering the upper part of the plurality of battery modules, the top plate having an exhaust port, wherein the exhaust channel of each battery module communicates with the exhaust port.

[0015] The vent may include a ruptureable membrane that ruptures above a predetermined pressure.

[0016] The exhaust passage may be disposed on the module housing and may include: a hollow pipe; a gas inlet disposed on one surface of the pipe; and a gas outlet disposed on another surface of the pipe at a predetermined distance from the gas inlet in the extension direction of the pipe.

[0017] The gas inlet may be matched with a first opening in the module housing and the gas outlet may be matched with the exhaust port of the top plate, the exhaust port may include a ruptureable membrane that ruptures above a predetermined pressure.

[0018] The top plate may include multiple exhaust ports, and each exhaust port may be vertically connected to the gas outlet of each battery module.

[0019] The top plate may be formed as a hollow structure and may include: a lower plate facing the upper surface of the exhaust channel; and an upper plate opposite the lower plate across the hollow space, and the exhaust port may include: a first exhaust port in the lower plate, the first exhaust port being perpendicularly connected to the gas outlet; and a second exhaust port in the upper plate being separated from the first exhaust port by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction.

[0020] The ruptureable membrane may be provided in either the first exhaust port or the second exhaust port, and a mesh may be provided in the other of the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port.

[0021] The battery pack may further include an outer cover configured to surround the upper region of the top plate.

[0022] The pipe may include multiple partitions that separate the internal space.

[0023] The conduit may include a narrow passage extending along the length between the plurality of separators.

[0024] The battery unit may include a first group of battery units and a second group of battery units, the first group of battery units and the second group of battery units being configured to face each other with a firewall inserted between them, the firewall being configured to separate the internal space of the module housing.

[0025] The first opening may include an opening 1_1 on the top left side of the module housing and an opening 1_2 on the top right side of the module housing, with the firewall as a reference, and the gas inlet may include a first gas inlet matching the opening 1_1 and a second gas inlet matching the opening 1_2.

[0026] The gas outlet may include a first gas outlet in the left edge region of the pipeline and a second gas outlet in the right edge region of the pipeline.

[0027] The first opening can be closed by a cap made of hot-melt material.

[0028] The module housing and the exhaust channel can be integrally formed.

[0029] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle including the battery pack is provided.

[0030] Beneficial effects

[0031] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack with an exhaust path is provided, which allows exhaust gases to flow quickly and safely outside the battery pack housing without affecting other battery modules when exhaust gases or sparks are generated from any battery module.

[0032] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand these and other effects from this specification and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial exploded perspective view of the battery pack.

[0035] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A conceptual diagram of the exhaust path for the battery pack.

[0036] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 An exploded perspective view of the main components of the battery module.

[0038] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 4 A diagram showing the bottom of the battery module.

[0039] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of part A in the image.

[0040] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 Bottom view of the exhaust passage.

[0041] Figure 9 yes Figure 5 A plan view of the exhaust passage.

[0042] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the first opening of the module housing according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 11 This is a diagram showing the connection structure between the module housing and the exhaust passage according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 12 This is a diagram showing the edge region of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 13 and Figure 14 This is a diagram illustrating the connection structure between the exhaust passage and the top plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 15 It is shown Figure 14 A diagram illustrating an example of deformation of the top plate.

[0047] Figure 16 This is a diagram illustrating an example of an outer cover plate added to prevent exposure of the top plate according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0048] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terms or words used in the specification and appended claims should not be construed as limited to their general or dictionary meanings, but rather interpreted based on their meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure, on the basis of allowing the inventors to appropriately define the terms used for best interpretation. Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the illustrations shown in the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to fully describe the technical aspects of the present disclosure. Thus, it should be understood that various other equivalents and modifications may be made at the time of filing this application.

[0049] This article uses the terms top plate and base plate to define the main parts of the battery pack housing; however, for example, when the battery pack is inverted, the top plate clearly corresponds to the bottom of the battery pack, and the base plate corresponds to the top of the battery pack. That is to say, it should be noted that the top plate and base plate can be interpreted differently from their dictionary meanings depending on the placement of the battery pack or the observer's position.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial exploded perspective view of the battery pack. Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A conceptual diagram of the exhaust path for the battery pack.

[0051] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of battery modules 100; and a battery pack housing 200 for accommodating the plurality of battery modules 100, wherein an exhaust passage 150 of each battery module 100 is connected to an exhaust port 221 of a top plate 220 of the battery pack housing 200, the exhaust port 221 being used to discharge gas when gas is generated from each battery module 100.

[0052] As described in detail below, when gas is generated from each battery module 100, the battery pack 10 of this disclosure allows the exhaust gas to move to the edge of the battery module 100 and exit via an exhaust port 221 on the battery pack housing 200 of each battery module 100, as... Figure 3 As shown in the figure. The exhaust port 221 includes a ruptureable membrane 223 that can rupture above a predetermined pressure. The ruptureable membrane 223 can be closed under normal conditions and can be torn open by pressure when exhaust gas is generated.

[0053] When gas is generated from any battery module 100, the battery pack 10 according to this disclosure allows the exhaust gas to exit the battery pack housing 200 directly from the corresponding battery module 100, thereby preventing the gas or high-temperature sparks from spreading to other battery modules 100 in the battery pack housing 200. Therefore, the battery pack 10 of this disclosure can prevent thermal runaway from propagating to other battery modules 100 when high-temperature exhaust gas is generated in any battery module 100.

[0054] The battery module 100 and battery pack housing 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below to achieve the above-described effects.

[0055] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a battery module 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Exploded perspective view of the main parts of the battery module 100. Figure 6 It is shown Figure 4 A diagram showing the bottom of the battery module 100. Figure 7 yes Figure 5 An enlarged view of part A in the image.

[0056] First, refer to Figures 4 to 7 A battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described. The battery module 100 includes: a plurality of battery cells 110, a module housing 120, a firewall 130, a heat sink 140, and an exhaust channel 150.

[0057] Battery cell 110 may include a pouch cell 110 with high energy density and easy stacking. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the pouch-type battery cells 110 can stand upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) and be stacked in the horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) to form a cell stack. In contrast to this embodiment, the battery module 100 may include prismatic battery cells 110 in a rectangular prism shape or cylindrical battery cells 110.

[0058] The module housing 120 is a component for housing multiple battery cells 110 and is formed using a material with high mechanical strength in a hermetically sealed structure to protect the multiple battery cells 110 from external physical and chemical factors. The module housing 120 may include a lower housing 121 covering the lower portion of the battery cells 110 and an upper housing 122 covering the upper portion of the battery cells 110. The upper housing 122 and the lower housing 121 may be in a generally U-shaped form and may be joined together by bolts and / or welding.

[0059] Typically, a conventional battery module 100 includes a single stack of cells housed within a module housing 120. However, the battery module 100 of this embodiment includes multiple stacks of cells housed within a module housing 120.

[0060] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the battery module 100 of this embodiment includes a first group of battery cells G1 forming a unit stack and a second group of battery cells G2 forming another unit stack. The first group of battery cells G1 and the second group of battery cells G2 can be housed in a module housing 120 such that the first group of battery cells G1 and the second group of battery cells G2 are arranged facing each other with a firewall 130 inserted between them, wherein the firewall 130 divides the internal space of the module housing 120 into two.

[0061] That is, the first battery cell G1 is located in one space of the lower housing 121 separated by the firewall 130, and the second battery cell G2 is located in another space of the lower housing 121. Each of the first battery cell G1 and the second battery cell G2, positioned as described above, can be accommodated in each of two hermetically sealed spaces surrounded by the upper housing 122, the lower housing 121, and the firewall 130, while being covered by the upper housing 122.

[0062] Here, firewall 130 refers to a plate-shaped structure that divides the internal space of module housing 120 into two physically separate spaces. Firewall 130 may be made of, for example, refractory or rigid material, and may have two sheets with refractory material (e.g., mica) attached to their surfaces. Firewall 130 blocks heat transfer between the first battery cell G1 and the second battery cell G2, and prevents module housing 120 from sagging in the center due to its top and bottom connections to the center of upper housing 122 and lower housing 121, respectively.

[0063] Although not shown, for example, the upper housing 122 may have an opening in a portion of the central side region. The opening can be used to install a connection device for electrically connecting the first battery cell G1 to the second battery cell G2. The connection device may include a metal rod-shaped busbar, and the opening can be closed after the connection device is installed.

[0064] According to this embodiment, a battery module 100 may have a capacity comparable to two battery modules 100, each comprising a unit stack housed in a module housing 120, but with a reduced volume. Furthermore, when manufacturing the battery pack 10, the battery module 100 may advantageously reduce the lateral (X-axis) width of the battery pack housing 200.

[0065] The heat sink 140 can be disposed at the bottom of the module housing 120, in other words, disposed on the lower surface of the lower housing 121, such as... Figure 6 As shown in the diagram. Here, heat sink 140 refers to a cooling component that absorbs heat through direct contact with battery cell 110. Heat sink 140 may have the shape of an aluminum plate including internal flow channels, and as shown in this embodiment, heat sink 140 may be included in the lower housing 121 or detachably attached to the surface of the lower housing 121.

[0066] The exhaust passage 150 is used to discharge exhaust gases from the battery module 100, and one side of the exhaust passage 150 can communicate with the interior of the module housing 120 and the other side of the exhaust passage 150 can communicate with the outdoor environment. The exhaust passage 150 can be attached to the outside of the module housing 120 or can be integrally formed with the module housing 120.

[0067] The exhaust channel 150 in this embodiment may have a hollow, flat rectangular box shape with dimensions approximately corresponding to the upper surface of the upper housing 122, and may be attached to the module housing 120. Additionally, the exhaust channel 150 may be made of a refractory material to prevent deformation caused by high-temperature gases or high-temperature sparks.

[0068] Specifically, refer to Figure 5 and Figures 7 to 9 The exhaust passage 150 includes: a hollow pipe 151; a gas inlet 152 corresponding to a hole for gas to enter the pipe 151; and a gas outlet 153 corresponding to a hole for gas to leave the pipe 151.

[0069] The conduit 151 has a region corresponding to the upper surface of the module housing 120, and the conduit 151 is hollow to allow gas to flow inside. In addition, the conduit 151 may include a plurality of partitions 154 that divide the internal space, the partitions 154 being spaced apart from each other in the width direction and extending in the length direction.

[0070] For example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the conduit 151 is divided by partitions 154, thereby forming a narrow passage 157 between the partitions 154. A high-temperature spark or flame moving with the exhaust gas can be restricted in its movement or extinguished due to bottlenecks or congestion within the narrow passage. As an additional measure to suppress the movement of the high-temperature spark or flame, a metal mesh (not shown) can be applied to the narrow passage or gas inlet 152.

[0071] Gas inlet 152 may be located on the lower surface of pipe 151 and match the first opening 123 at the top of module housing 120.

[0072] More specifically, such as Figure 8As shown, the gas inlet 152 may have an elongated orifice shape in the central region of the lower surface of the pipe 151, which is as wide as the module housing 120. The gas inlet 152 may include a first gas inlet 152a and a second gas inlet 152b, and the first gas inlet 152a and the second gas inlet 152b may be symmetrical with respect to the center of the module housing 120.

[0073] In addition, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, the first opening 123 of the module housing 120 includes an opening 1_1 123a located on the top left side of the module housing 120 with reference to the firewall 130 and an opening 1_2 123b located on the top right side of the module housing 120. When the exhaust passage 150 is attached to the upper surface of the module housing 120, the opening 1_1 can be perpendicularly matched with the first gas inlet 152a, and the opening 1_2 can be perpendicularly matched with the second gas inlet 152b.

[0074] Therefore, the gas and high-temperature spark generated from the first battery cell G1 can enter the pipe 151 through the 1_1 opening 123a and the first gas inlet 152a, and the gas and high-temperature spark generated from the second battery cell G2 can enter the pipe 151 through the 1_2 opening 123b and the second gas inlet 152b.

[0075] In addition, such as Figure 11 As shown, the baffle 151a in the internal space of the pipe 151 between the first gas inlet 152a and the second gas inlet 152b can prevent gas generated from the first battery cell G1 from moving to the second battery cell G2.

[0076] Although not shown, the first opening 123 may be closed by a cover (not shown) made of a heat-melting material (e.g., rubber or plastic). The cover prevents impurities from entering the module housing 120 through the first opening 123 under normal conditions. When exhaust gases or high-temperature sparks are generated, the cover is melted by heat and pressure to open the first opening 123. The cover may be replaced by a mesh.

[0077] Gas outlet 153 may be located on the upper surface of pipe 151. Gas outlet 153 may include a first gas outlet 153a and a second gas outlet 153b. Gas outlet 153 may be vertically matched with exhaust port 221 of top plate 220.

[0078] The first gas outlet 153a can be set at a predetermined distance from the first gas inlet 152a in the left extension direction (-X-axis direction) of the pipe 151, and the second gas outlet 153b can be set at a predetermined distance from the second gas inlet 152b in the right extension direction (+X-axis direction) of the pipe 151.

[0079] That is to say, refer to Figure 9and Figure 12 The first gas outlet 153a is used as the outlet for exhaust gas entering the pipeline 151 via the first gas inlet 152a, and the second gas outlet 153b is used as the outlet for exhaust gas entering the pipeline 151 via the second gas inlet 152b.

[0080] The first gas outlet 153a and the second gas outlet 153b can each be formed into a hole shape of a size that is perpendicular to the exhaust port 221, and can be respectively located in the left edge region and the right edge region of the upper surface of the pipe 151.

[0081] The battery pack housing 200 is a component for housing the battery module 100, and as... Figure 2 The components shown may include: a base plate 210, a top plate 220, a left frame 230, a right frame 240, a front cover 250, and a rear cover 260.

[0082] In particular, the top plate 220 is configured to cover the upper part of the battery module 100 and includes a plurality of exhaust ports 221 for the exit of exhaust gases.

[0083] like Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, when the battery module 100 is covered by the top plate 220, the exhaust port 221 can be located at a position perpendicular to the first gas outlet 153a or the second gas outlet 153b of each battery module 100. For example, in this embodiment, the battery modules 100 are arranged along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery pack housing 200, and the first gas outlet 153a and the second gas outlet 153b of each battery module 100 are located at the two edges in the width direction of the battery pack housing 200. Half of the exhaust ports 221 are located in the left edge region of the top plate 220, and the other half of the exhaust ports 221 are located in the right edge region of the top plate 220, so that the gas outlets 153 of all battery modules 100 are perpendicularly matched with the exhaust ports 221 and connected one-to-one.

[0084] The arrangement of the battery module 100 housed in the battery pack housing 200, or the positions of the first gas outlet 153a and the second gas outlet 153b of the battery module 100, can be appropriately changed as needed, differing from this embodiment. In this case, the exhaust port 221 can be located in the top plate 220 to match the changed positions of the first gas outlet 153a and the second gas outlet 153b.

[0085] The exhaust port 221 in this embodiment includes a through hole 222 and a ruptureable membrane 223.

[0086] The through-hole 222 may have a size equal to or larger than that of the gas outlet 153 to prevent leakage of exhaust gas, and a sealing member such as an O-ring (not shown) may be applied around the through-hole 222.

[0087] The ruptureable membrane 223 can be configured to cover the through-hole 222 and rupture when the internal pressure of the battery pack housing 200 exceeds a predetermined pressure. According to this configuration, moisture or impurities can be prevented from penetrating into the battery pack housing 200 under normal conditions, and when exhaust gas is generated, the ruptureable membrane 223 ruptures due to the heat and pressure of the exhaust gas, opening the through-hole 222 and allowing the exhaust gas to flow outside the battery pack housing 200. In this case, the exhaust gas can be rapidly discharged through the through-hole without leakage due to the large pressure difference between the inside and outside of the battery pack housing 200.

[0088] The ruptureable membrane 223 may be in the form of an aluminum or plastic film, but is not limited thereto, and may be made of any material capable of rupturing under a predetermined pressure. Additionally, the ruptureable membrane 223 may include at least one slit (not shown) partially cut from its surface in the thickness direction. The slit helps the ruptureable membrane 223 to rupture easily when a predetermined pressure is applied.

[0089] In this embodiment, a frame-shaped support frame 225 can be used to facilitate the installation of the ruptureable membrane 223 in the through-hole 222.

[0090] The support frame 225 supports the outer periphery of the fracturing membrane 223 and is mounted in the top plate 220 by bolts or riveting. The through-hole 222 can be covered by the fracturing membrane 223. In this case, assembly is easier and sealing is improved compared to when the fracturing membrane 223 is directly mounted in the top plate 220.

[0091] Additionally, the top plate 220 according to this embodiment may further include partitions that extend across the top plate 220 in the width direction and descend downwards from the surface to form a wall. The top plate 220 may include a plurality of partitions arranged at predetermined intervals along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the top plate 220. The partitions prevent deformation of the top plate 220, and since the partitions are disposed in the space between the battery modules 100 when the battery modules 100 are covered by the top plate 220, the partitions can block heat transfer between adjacent battery modules 100.

[0092] With the configuration of the battery pack 10 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, when exhaust gas is generated in the battery module 100, the exhaust gas can leave in the following flow.

[0093] In each battery module 100, exhaust gas is generated -> the gas leaves the module housing 120 through opening 123a or opening 123b at the top of the module housing 120 -> the gas enters the exhaust channel 150 through the first gas inlet 152a or the second gas inlet 152b of the exhaust channel -> the exhaust gas moves along the pipe 151 to the first gas outlet 153a or the second gas outlet 153b at the two edges of the battery module 100 -> the ruptureable membrane 223 of the exhaust port 221 ruptures to open the exhaust port 221 -> the exhaust gas leaves the battery pack housing 200 through the opened exhaust port 221.

[0094] Therefore, as described above, since the battery pack 10 according to the embodiments of this disclosure is configured so that exhaust gases leave the battery pack housing 200 directly from each battery module 100 without moving within the battery pack housing 200, exhaust gases will not cause thermal damage to other battery modules 100 when exhaust gases are generated due to a fault in any battery module 100. Therefore, when a fire occurs in one battery module 100, this disclosure can prevent thermal runaway caused by the transmission of exhaust gases or high-temperature sparks to other battery modules 100. Furthermore, the battery pack 10 of this disclosure can visually detect the battery module 100 where a fire has occurred based on the location of the exhaust gases, which allows for precise and effective action, such as centralized supply of fire-fighting water to the corresponding battery module 100.

[0095] Subsequently, refer to Figure 15 and Figure 16 A modified example of the top plate 220 and another embodiment of the present disclosure are described.

[0096] First, refer to Figure 15 According to the modified example, the top plate 220A has a hollow structure and includes: a lower plate 226 facing the upper surface of the exhaust channel 150, and an upper plate 227 opposite to the lower plate across the hollow space O.

[0097] Additionally, the exhaust ports include a first exhaust port 221A in the lower plate 226 and a second exhaust port 221B in the upper plate 227, which is horizontally separated from the first exhaust port 221A by a predetermined distance. The first exhaust port 221A is matched with and vertically connected to the gas outlet 153 of the exhaust passage 150. A ruptureable membrane 223 may be provided in the first exhaust port 221A, and a mesh 229 may be provided in the second exhaust port 221B instead of the ruptureable membrane 223. Conversely, a mesh 229 may be provided in the first exhaust port 221A, and a ruptureable membrane 223 may be provided in the second exhaust port 221B.

[0098] Compared to the top plate 220 described above, the top plate 220A according to this modification can advantageously reduce the exhaust gas pressure due to its more complex exhaust path. Furthermore, the complex exhaust paths and construction of the first exhaust port 221A and the second exhaust port 221B make it more difficult for high-temperature sparks or flames to leave the battery pack housing 200 together when the exhaust gas is discharged. Therefore, this modification is more advantageous than the above-described embodiment in preventing fire risks near the exterior of the battery pack 10.

[0099] Subsequently, refer to Figure 16 This description describes a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The same reference numerals as in the preceding embodiments denote the same elements. To avoid repetition, descriptions of identical elements are omitted, and the following description is based on the differences between this embodiment and the preceding embodiments.

[0100] Compared to the preceding embodiments, the battery pack according to another embodiment of this disclosure may further include an outer cover plate 270 configured to surround the upper region of the top plate 220, such as... Figure 16 As shown in the image.

[0101] The battery pack 10 of the preceding embodiment is at risk of damage from external forces because the ruptureable membrane 223 on the top plate 220 is directly exposed to the external environment. Therefore, according to another embodiment of this disclosure, the battery pack is configured to cover the ruptureable membrane 223 with an outer cover plate 270 to protect the ruptureable membrane 223 from external forces. The outer cover plate 270 may be, for example, a high-strength plastic, aluminum, or iron plate, and may have a breathable structure such as a grating, if required, to allow gas to pass through.

[0102] The battery pack according to this disclosure can be used in vehicles such as electric vehicles or hybrid electric vehicles. That is, vehicles according to this disclosure may include the battery pack according to this disclosure. The battery pack may be installed in the body frame under the vehicle seats or trunk, and if necessary, the battery pack may be installed in the vehicle with the top plate of the battery pack housing inverted.

[0103] In addition, the terms indicating direction used herein, such as up, down, left, right, front, and back, are for ease of description only, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these terms may vary depending on the position of the element or the observer.

[0104] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to a limited number of embodiments and accompanying drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the technical aspects of the present disclosure and to the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: Multiple battery modules, each battery module including a battery cell, a module housing housing the battery cell, and an exhaust channel communicating with the interior of the module housing; and A battery pack housing accommodating the plurality of battery modules, the battery pack housing including a top plate covering the upper part of the plurality of battery modules, the top plate having vents. The exhaust channel of each battery module is connected to the exhaust port. The exhaust channel is located on the module housing. The exhaust passage includes: a hollow pipe; and a gas inlet disposed on one surface of the pipe; And a gas outlet located at a predetermined distance from the gas inlet on another surface of the pipe along the pipe's extension direction. The gas inlet is matched with the first opening of the module housing, and the gas outlet is matched with the exhaust port of the top plate and connected one-to-one. The vent includes a ruptureable membrane that breaks above a predetermined pressure, and The exhaust gases generated in each battery module exit the battery pack housing via a matched exhaust port, and Each battery module has its own independent exhaust channel, and they are not connected to the exhaust channels of other battery modules.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the top plate includes a plurality of vents, each vent being vertically connected to the gas outlet of each battery module.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the top plate is formed as a hollow structure. The top plate includes: The lower plate facing the upper surface of the exhaust passage; And an upper plate opposite the lower plate, separated by a hollow space, and The exhaust port includes: a first exhaust port in the lower plate, the first exhaust port being perpendicularly connected to the gas outlet; And a second exhaust port in the upper plate that is separated from the first exhaust port by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the ruptureable membrane is provided in either the first vent or the second vent, and a mesh is provided in the other of the first vent and the second vent.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: It is configured as an outer cover plate surrounding the upper region of the top plate.

6. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the conduit includes a plurality of partitions that separate the internal space.

7. The battery pack of claim 6, wherein the conduit includes a narrow passage extending along the length direction between the plurality of separators.

8. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the battery cells comprise a first group of battery cells and a second group of battery cells, the first group of battery cells and the second group of battery cells being configured to face each other with a firewall inserted between them, the firewall being configured to separate the internal space of the module housing.

9. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the first opening comprises an opening 1_1 on the top left side of the module housing and an opening 1_2 on the top right side of the module housing, with reference to the firewall, and The gas inlet includes a first gas inlet that matches the opening 1_1 and a second gas inlet that matches the opening 1_2.

10. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the gas outlet comprises a first gas outlet in the left edge region of the conduit and a second gas outlet in the right edge region of the conduit.

11. The battery pack of claim 8, wherein the first opening is closed by a cap made of a thermoplastic material.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the module housing and the exhaust channel are integrally formed.

13. A vehicle comprising a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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