Battery pack

Abstract

A battery pack capable of detecting an ignition of a battery cell prior to an ignition and thereby shortening a fire extinguishing time to improve safety. The battery pack includes: a battery module having battery cells electrically connected and including an exhaust port; a smoke generating device configured to generate smoke in response to a temperature of the battery cell being higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detection device configured to detect smoke generated from the smoke generation device and generate an alarm signal; an agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing tube connected to the battery module and configured to store a fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing tube; and a fire extinguishing receiver configured to receive an alarm signal of the smoke detection device and generate a supply signal that causes the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing tube.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0095985, filed on July 24, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to battery packs. Background Art

[0004] Recently, a high-power secondary battery using a non-aqueous electrolyte with high energy density has been developed. A battery pack may include a plurality of the above-mentioned high-power secondary batteries connected in series, and thus the battery pack generally has high capacity and high power. The battery pack may be used to drive a motor of a device requiring high power, such as an electric vehicle.

[0005] In a battery pack, since several to dozens of battery cells may be connected to form one battery pack, heat generated from each battery cell needs to be dissipated, and temperature management of the secondary battery may be critical. Therefore, technology for improving safety is being studied.

[0006] Furthermore, an increase in the temperature of one or more secondary batteries may cause a fire, and due to the characteristics of the battery pack, extinguishing the fire when it occurs presents a challenge.

[0007] The above-described information disclosed in the background of the present disclosure is merely for enhancing understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore may include information that does not constitute related art. Summary of the invention

[0008] The present disclosure provides a battery pack capable of detecting fire of a battery cell in advance before the fire and shortening the fire extinguishing time to improve safety.

[0009] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a battery module including battery cells electrically connected together and including an exhaust port; a smoke generating device configured to generate smoke in response to a temperature of at least one of the battery cells being higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detecting device configured to detect smoke generated from the smoke generating device and to generate an alarm signal in response to detecting the smoke; an agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe having one end close to the battery module and configured to store a fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; and a fire extinguishing receiver configured to receive the alarm signal from the smoke detecting device and to generate a supply signal to cause the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe.

[0010] The smoke generated from the smoke generating device may have a colour.

[0011] The fire extinguishing pipe may be configured to spray a fire extinguishing agent onto the battery cells in response to a fire occurring in the battery pack.

[0012] The smoke generating device may be external to the battery module.

[0013] The battery pack may further include: a temperature sensing unit configured to detect a temperature of each of the battery cells and transmit an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device in response to a temperature of one or more of the battery cells being higher than a reference temperature.

[0014] The aerosol generating device may be a sheet attached to a surface of each of the battery cells.

[0015] A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a battery module, including battery cells electrically connected together and including exhaust ports; a smoke detection device, configured to detect internal gas discharged through at least one of the exhaust ports and generate an alarm signal; an agent storage unit, including a fire extinguishing pipe having one end close to the battery module and configured to store fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; and a fire extinguishing receiver, configured to receive the alarm signal of the smoke detection device and generate a supply signal to cause the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe.

[0016] The smoke detection device may include a suction tube connected to the battery module and configured to inhale internal gas.

[0017] Each of the battery cells may be configured to discharge internal gas through a corresponding one of the exhaust ports in response to an internal pressure being higher than a reference pressure.

[0018] The fire extinguishing tube may be configured to spray a fire extinguishing agent onto the battery cells in response to a fire occurring in the battery pack. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0021] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. Specific embodiments

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023] The embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to more completely describe the present disclosure to those skilled in the art, and the following embodiments may be modified into various other forms, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure easier to understand and complete, and fully convey the spirit of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0024] In addition, in the following drawings, for the convenience and clarity of description, the thickness and size of each layer are exaggerated, and in the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same elements. As used in this specification, the term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the listed items. In addition, in this specification, the meaning of "connection" refers not only to the case where component A and component B are directly connected, but also to the case where component C is interposed between component A and component B to indirectly connect component A and component B.

[0025] The terms used in this specification are used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used in this specification, singular forms may include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, when used in this specification, "include" and / or "comprise" indicate the existence of the features, quantities, steps, operations, components, elements and / or groups mentioned, and do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, components, elements and / or groups.

[0026] Although the terms "first" and "second" etc. are used in this specification to describe various components, parts, regions, layers and / or parts, it is clear that these components, parts, regions, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component, component, region, layer or part from another component, component, region, layer or part. Accordingly, a first component, component, region, layer or part to be described later may refer to a second component, component, region, layer or part without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0027] Spatially related terms such as "below", "beneath", "down", "above", and "on" are used to facilitate understanding of the relationship of one element or feature shown in the drawings relative to another element or feature. These spatially related terms are provided to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure according to various process states or use states of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. For example, when an element or feature in the drawings is reversed, an element described as being "below" or "below" becomes "above" or "above". Accordingly, "below" is a concept that covers "above" and "below".

[0028] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present disclosure.

[0029] Here, throughout the specification, the same reference numerals are added to components having similar configurations and operations. In addition, a case where a certain component is electrically connected to another component includes not only a case where the certain component and the other component are directly connected, but also a case where the certain component and the other component are connected and another element is connected between the certain component and the other component.

[0030] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0031] refer to Figure 1 , a battery pack 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery module 110 , a temperature sensing unit 120 , a smoke generating device 130 , a smoke detecting device 140 , a fire extinguishing receiver 150 , and an agent storage unit 160 .

[0032] The battery module 110 may include a plurality of battery cells 111 electrically connected together. In some embodiments, the plurality of battery cells 111 may be connected in series and / or in parallel and may be housed in a housing. In one or more embodiments, each of the battery cells 111 may be a cylindrical battery cell or a prismatic battery cell. Each of the battery cells 111 may include an electrode assembly housed in a box and a cover plate or cover assembly coupled to the upper portion of the box. In addition, each of the battery cells 111 may include an exhaust port 111a configured to rupture in response to the generation of internal gas and thereby discharge the internal gas.

[0033] The temperature sensing unit 120 may be configured to detect the temperature of the battery module 110. In some embodiments, the temperature sensing unit 120 may be configured to detect the temperature of each battery cell 111. In one or more embodiments, the temperature sensing unit 120 may include a temperature sensor installed in each battery cell 111 to measure (e.g., individually measure) the temperature of the battery cell 111. In addition, the temperature sensing unit 120 may be configured to detect the temperature of each battery cell 111 and transmit the temperature information of each battery cell 111 to the smoke generating device 130. The temperature sensing unit 120 may be configured to transmit an abnormal signal to the smoke generating device 130 in response to the temperature of one or more of the battery cells 111 being higher than a reference temperature. In one or more embodiments, the reference temperature of the temperature sensing unit 120 may be set to approximately 100°C, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The reference temperature set in the temperature sensing unit 120 may be changed or varied according to various design considerations. However, the reference temperature may be set to a temperature lower than the ignition temperature of the battery cell 111. In one or more embodiments, the battery cell 111 may be configured to ignite at approximately 150°C.

[0034] The smoke generating device 130 may be configured to receive an abnormal signal from the temperature sensing unit 120 and generate smoke in response to receiving the abnormal signal. As the temperature of the battery cell 111 increases abnormally, the smoke generating device 130 receives the abnormal signal from the temperature sensing unit 120 and generates smoke, thereby notifying personnel of a dangerous situation. In some embodiments, the smoke generating device 130 may include a drive circuit configured to operate in response to receiving an abnormal signal from the temperature sensing unit 120. In some embodiments, in response to the smoke generating device 130 receiving the abnormal signal from the temperature sensing unit 120, the drive circuit of the smoke generating device 130 operates and the internal chemical substances react with each other, thereby generating smoke. The smoke generated from the smoke generating device 130 may have a color such as red or blue, which makes it easy to identify the smoke from the outside. In some embodiments, the smoke generating device 130 may be on the outer surface of the battery module 110, for example, in a housing that accommodates the battery cell 111. Before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, the smoke generating device 130 may be used to prevent a fire by receiving an abnormal signal indicating an abnormal temperature increase of the battery cell 111 from the temperature sensing unit 120 and thereby generating smoke to notify personnel, and simultaneously notifying the fire extinguishing receiver 150 through the smoke detection device 140. In one or more embodiments, because a manager or worker may notice the smoke generated from the smoke generating device 130 and notify nearby people to evacuate, casualties due to the fire may be prevented. The amount of smoke generated from the smoke generating device 130 may be sufficient to be detected by the smoke detection device 140, and may contain components that are harmless to the human body.

[0035] The smoke detection device 140 may be configured to detect smoke generated from the smoke generating device 130. The smoke detection device 140 may be configured to detect smoke from the smoke generating device 130 and transmit an alarm signal indicating smoke generation to the fire extinguishing receiver 150. In some embodiments, the smoke detection device 140 may be adjacent to the smoke generating device 130. In one or more embodiments, the smoke detection device 140 may be on the ceiling of a facility in which the battery module 110 is installed. The smoke detection device 140 may be configured to detect not only smoke generated from the smoke generating device 130 but also smoke generated from a fire occurring in the battery module 110.

[0036] The fire extinguishing receiver 150 may be configured to receive an alarm signal from the smoke detection device 140 and transmit a supply signal to cause the fire extinguishing agent to be supplied from the agent storage unit 160 (e.g., discharged from the agent storage unit 160). Because the temperature of the battery module 110 increases and the risk of fire (or ignition) is detected by the smoke detection device 140, the fire extinguishing receiver 150 may be configured to issue a command to supply the fire extinguishing agent from the agent storage unit 160 (e.g., discharge the fire extinguishing agent from the agent storage unit 160) so that the fire can be quickly extinguished.

[0037] The agent storage unit 160 stores a fire extinguishing agent therein. The agent storage unit 160 may include a fire extinguishing pipe 161 configured to supply the fire extinguishing agent to the battery module 110. In some embodiments, the length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be approximately (approximately) 50 meters (m), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be changed according to the installation position of the battery module 110 and / or the agent storage unit 160. In some embodiments, the fire extinguishing agent may include one or more substances capable of extinguishing a fire occurring in the battery module 110. In one or more embodiments, the fire extinguishing agent may include one or more of argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any type or kind of fire extinguishing agent capable of extinguishing a fire may be used.

[0038] Because the agent storage unit 160 supplies (e.g., discharges) the fire extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe 161 in response to receiving a supply signal from the fire extinguishing receiver 150 to cause the fire extinguishing agent to be supplied, the fire extinguishing agent can be pre-filled in the fire extinguishing pipe 161 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110. According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, in response to a fire occurring in the battery module 110, the fire extinguishing agent filled in the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be directly sprayed on the battery module 110 to extinguish the fire in the battery module 110, and therefore, the fire stopping time (or fire extinguishing time) can be shortened compared to an embodiment in which the fire extinguishing pipe 161 is not pre-filled with the fire extinguishing agent.

[0039] In one or more embodiments in which the length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 is about 50 m, after a fire, it may take about 20 to about 30 seconds for the smoke detection device 140 to detect smoke and transmit an alarm signal to the fire extinguishing receiver 150, the fire extinguishing receiver 150 to transmit a supply signal for supplying the fire extinguishing agent to the agent storage unit 160, and the fire extinguishing agent to be sprayed on the battery module 110. Therefore, after a fire occurs, during tens of seconds between recognizing the fire and the fire extinguishing agent being sprayed on the battery module 110, the fire occurring in the battery module 110 may spread and cause a large fire. Accordingly, even when the fire extinguishing agent is supplied from the agent storage unit 160, the fire may not be extinguished or the fire extinguishing time may be too long.

[0040] However, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the fire extinguishing agent can be supplied and filled in the fire extinguishing pipe 161 in advance (i.e., pre-filled) based on the operation of the smoke generating device 130 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, the fire extinguishing agent can be immediately (or substantially immediately) sprayed on the battery module 110 when a fire occurs, so as to shorten the fire extinguishing time and prevent the fire from spreading. In addition, as the distance between the battery module 110 and the agent storage unit 160 increases, the present disclosure can more effectively prevent a fire.

[0041] In some embodiments, the fire extinguishing agent contained in the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be sprayed while a portion of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 is melted due to a fire occurring in the battery module 110. In some embodiments, the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may surround the battery module 110 (or surround at least a portion of the battery module 110).

[0042] In some embodiments, the agent storage unit 160 may supply the fire extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe 161 in response to receiving a supply signal for causing the fire extinguishing agent to be supplied from the fire extinguishing receiver 150, and the fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be immediately (or substantially immediately) sprayed on the battery cells 111. In one or more embodiments, before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, the battery cells 111 may be cooled by spraying the fire extinguishing agent on the battery cells 111.

[0043] Figure 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a battery pack 200 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] refer to Figure 2 , the battery pack 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery module 110 , a smoke generating device 230 , a smoke detecting device 140 , a fire extinguishing receiver 150 , and an agent storage unit 160 .

[0045] The smoke generating device 230 may be in the battery module 110. In some embodiments, the smoke generating device 230 may be on the surface of each battery cell 111 in the battery module 110, or attached to the surface of each battery cell 111 in the battery module 110. The smoke generating device 230 may be a sheet, and may contain or include a chemical substance configured to cause a chemical reaction and generate smoke in response to reaching a reference temperature in the battery module 110. In one or more embodiments, the reference temperature may be set to approximately 100° C., but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The reference temperature set in the smoke generating device 230 may be changed or varied according to various design considerations.

[0046] The smoke generating device 230 may be configured to prevent fire by generating smoke visible to personnel in response to a temperature increase of one or more of the battery cells 111 to a reference temperature or higher and also notifying the fire extinguishing receiver 150 through the smoke detecting device 140 .

[0047] Figure 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a battery pack 300 according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] refer to Figure 3 , the battery pack 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery module 110 , a smoke detection device 340 , a fire extinguishing receiver 150 , and an agent storage unit 160 .

[0049] The smoke detection device 340 may include a suction pipe 341 connected to the battery module 110. The suction pipe 341 may be configured to suck internal gas generated from the battery cells 111 in the battery module 110. The smoke detection device 340 may be configured to detect the internal gas generated from the battery cells 111 through the suction pipe 341. In some embodiments, as the temperature of one or more of the battery cells 111 increases, the internal pressure increases and thus the internal gas is generated, and in response to the internal pressure being equal to or higher than the reference pressure, the exhaust port 111a in one or more of the battery cells 111 is ruptured and the internal gas may be discharged to the outside of the battery cells 111. In one or more embodiments, the smoke detection device 340 may be configured to detect the internal gas discharged from one or more of the battery cells 111 through the suction pipe 341, and transmit an alarm signal notifying the gas generation to the fire extinguishing receiver 150.

[0050] Therefore, because the smoke detection device 340 can be configured to supply and fill the fire extinguishing agent in the fire extinguishing pipe 161 in advance (before the fire) and notify the fire extinguishing receiver 150 in response to detecting internal gas generated from one or more of the battery cells 111 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, when a fire occurs, the fire extinguishing agent can be sprayed on the battery module 110 immediately (or substantially immediately) to shorten the fire extinguishing time and prevent the fire from spreading.

[0051] In a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by detecting the temperature increase of the battery cells before a fire occurs in the battery module and by supplying the fire extinguishing agent to the interior of the fire extinguishing pipe in advance (i.e., before the fire) based on the operation of the smoke generating device, the fire extinguishing agent can be sprayed on the battery cells immediately (or substantially immediately) in response to the occurrence of a fire to shorten the fire extinguishing time and prevent the fire from spreading.

[0052] Furthermore, in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, before a fire occurs in a battery module, a dangerous state or condition of a battery cell can be signaled to personnel by including a temperature sensing unit that detects the temperature of the battery cell and a smoke generating device that generates smoke to prevent casualties.

[0053] What has been described above is merely one embodiment for implementing a battery pack according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment described above, and as claimed in the claims, the technical spirit of the present disclosure extends to the extent that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the main purpose of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: A battery module, comprising a plurality of battery cells electrically connected together, wherein the plurality of battery cells include a plurality of exhaust ports; a smoke generating device configured to generate smoke in response to a temperature of at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells being higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detection device configured to detect the smoke generated from the smoke generating device and to generate an alarm signal in response to detecting the smoke; an agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe having one end proximate to the battery module, the agent storage unit being configured to store a fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; as well as A fire extinguishing receiver is configured to receive the alarm signal from the smoke detecting device and generate a supply signal in response to the alarm signal, the supply signal causing the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The smoke generated from the smoke generating device has a color.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The fire extinguishing pipe is configured to spray the fire extinguishing agent onto the plurality of battery cells in response to a fire occurring in the battery pack.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The smoke generating device is outside the battery module.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, further comprising: A temperature sensing unit is configured to detect a temperature of each of the plurality of battery cells and is configured to transmit an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device in response to the temperature of the at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells being higher than the reference temperature.

6. The battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The aerosol generating device includes a sheet attached to a surface of each of the plurality of battery cells.

7. A battery pack comprising: A battery module, comprising a plurality of battery cells electrically connected together, wherein the plurality of battery cells include a plurality of exhaust ports; a smoke detection device configured to detect internal gas discharged through at least one of the plurality of exhaust ports and generate an alarm signal; an agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module and configured to store a fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; as well as A fire extinguishing receiver is configured to receive the alarm signal from the smoke detecting device and generate a supply signal in response to the alarm signal, the supply signal causing the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The smoke detection device includes a suction tube connected to the battery module, the suction tube being configured to inhale the internal gas.

9. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: Each of the plurality of battery cells is configured to discharge the internal gas through a corresponding one of the plurality of exhaust ports in response to an internal pressure being higher than a reference pressure.

10. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The fire extinguishing pipe is configured to spray the fire extinguishing agent onto the plurality of battery cells in response to a fire occurring in the battery pack.

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