Battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The battery pack according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of battery modules each having a sensor member for sensing gas or heat; a pack case including a wall frame having a gas exhaust path communicating with the battery module and surrounding the battery module; and an exhaust path cooling unit for cooling the gas exhaust path by flowing a coolant in the wall frame based on a hazard signal generated from the sensor member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack, and more particularly, to a technology for preventing a fire from rapidly developing when a fire occurs inside a battery pack.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0016870 filed in Korea on February 8, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries are drawing attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency due to a major advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels and another advantage of not generating byproducts due to energy use.

[0004] Therefore, secondary batteries are increasingly used in various devices. For example, secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for multifunctional small products such as wireless mobile devices or wearable devices, and are also used as energy sources for electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, etc. (electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, etc. are introduced as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles), and are used as energy storage systems (ESS).

[0005] Typically, each secondary battery has an operating voltage of about 2.5 V to 4.5 V. Therefore, for electric vehicles or energy storage devices requiring large capacity and high output, a battery module in which a plurality of secondary batteries are connected in series and / or in parallel is connected in series and / or in parallel to form a battery pack used as an energy source.

[0006] As described above, since secondary batteries are used as large-capacity and high-output energy sources, ensuring the safety of battery packs has become an important issue.

[0007] Existing battery packs include battery pack structures, such as beams between battery modules, to prevent the spread of heat between battery modules when a thermal event occurs, thereby temporarily delaying a chain fire. However, as the fire in the battery module continues, a large amount of high-temperature gas released from the battery module may cause thermal damage to other surrounding battery modules, thereby promoting a chain fire and further increasing the internal pressure of the battery pack, causing its structure to collapse or explode. Therefore, existing battery packs are configured to have exhaust holes in the battery pack housing to discharge gases to the outside. However, if a large amount of high-temperature gas and flames are forcefully discharged outside the battery pack, the fire may quickly spread to other structures outside the battery pack, such as a vehicle equipped with the battery pack, as well as the battery pack. Summary of the invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] The present disclosure has been designed to solve the problems of the related art, and thus the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery pack capable of suppressing high-temperature gas and flame from being strongly discharged to the outside of the battery pack when a fire occurs inside the battery pack.

[0010] Furthermore, the present disclosure is also directed to providing a battery pack capable of delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules to the greatest extent.

[0011] The technical problems that the present disclosure attempts to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention described below.

[0012] Technical Solution

[0013] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery pack according to the present disclosure is provided, which may include: a plurality of battery modules, each of the plurality of battery modules having a sensor component configured to detect gas or heat; a battery pack housing, which includes a wall frame, the wall frame having a gas exhaust path arranged therein to communicate with the battery modules and surrounding the battery modules; and an exhaust path cooling unit, which is configured to cool the gas exhaust path by causing a cooling medium to flow through the wall frame based on a danger signal generated from the sensor component.

[0014] The exhaust path cooling unit may include a cooling medium channel configured to provide a passage for moving the cooling medium inside and outside the wall frame, and a coolant controller configured to receive the danger signal from the sensor member and circulate the cooling medium through the cooling medium channel.

[0015] The cooling medium channel may include an inner wall channel disposed inside a wall frame where the gas exhaust path is located and an outer wall channel communicating with the inner wall channel and disposed outside the wall frame.

[0016] The wall frame may include a channel connector on at least one side, and the wall-interior channel and the wall-exterior channel may be configured to be connected and disconnected by the channel connector.

[0017] The battery pack housing may include: a battery pack tray, the battery pack tray including a base plate configured to support the bottom of the plurality of battery modules, and the wall frame arranged along the periphery of the base plate and standing upright on the base plate; and a battery pack cover, the battery pack cover being configured to cover the top opening of the battery pack tray.

[0018] The wall frame may be made of a heat conductive material so that the cooling medium channel and the gas exhaust path exchange heat with each other.

[0019] The wall frame may include: a gas inflow wall, the gas inflow wall including a gas exhaust path and at least one gas inlet, the at least one gas inlet being connected to the battery module to allow gas to flow from the battery module into the gas exhaust path; and a gas exhaust wall, the gas exhaust wall including a gas exhaust path and a gas outlet, the gas outlet being configured to discharge gas from the gas exhaust path to the outside of the battery pack housing.

[0020] At least a portion of the cooling medium passage may extend parallel to the gas exhaust path inside the gas inflow wall and the gas discharge wall.

[0021] The cooling medium passage may be configured in the form of a circular track around the gas exhaust path inside the gas inflow wall and the gas exhaust wall.

[0022] The sensor member may include at least one of a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature change of the battery module and a gas sensor configured to sense a gas generated from the battery module.

[0023] The sensor member may be configured to transmit a danger signal to the exhaust path cooling unit if a state in which a rate of temperature change of the battery module is greater than 1 degree Celsius (dT / dt>1° C.) based on a predetermined threshold temperature continues for 3 seconds or more.

[0024] The battery pack tray may include a partition disposed on an upper surface of the base plate and configured to partition an inner space of the battery pack tray horizontally or vertically.

[0025] The base plate may include a bottom plate fluid channel therein, and a plurality of bottom plate fluid channels may be respectively provided in sections of the base plate corresponding to positions of the respective battery modules so as to flow the cooling medium in the respective sections.

[0026] The coolant controller can be configured to selectively supply the cooling medium to the base plate fluid channel based on the danger signal, so that the cooling medium flows strongly in the section of the base plate where other battery modules among the multiple battery modules adjacent to the battery module transmitting the danger signal are located.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle including the above-mentioned battery pack is provided.

[0028] Beneficial Effects

[0029] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a battery pack capable of suppressing high-temperature gas and flame from being strongly discharged to the outside of the battery pack when a fire occurs inside the battery pack.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a battery pack capable of delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules to the greatest extent may be provided.

[0031] Effects obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partially exploded perspective view of the battery pack.

[0034] Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a gas exhaust path, a cooling medium channel, and a battery pack tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 4 is along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the right side wall taken along line BB' in FIG.

[0036] Figure 5 is along Figure 3 Schematic cross-sectional view of the front side wall taken along line CC' in FIG.

[0037] Figure 6 is along Figure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack taken along line AA'.

[0038] Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a cooling operation of a gas exhaust path for a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a battery pack viewed from the bottom according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Fig. 9 It is schematically shown Figure 8 Diagram of the configuration of the cooling system of the battery pack.

[0041] Fig.10 and Fig.11 It shows that when Figure 8 Diagram of the flow of cooling water when a thermal event occurs in a battery module of a battery pack.

[0042] Fig.12 is a diagram schematically showing a vehicle including a battery pack according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] Hereinafter, the preferred 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 used in the specification and the appended claims should not be interpreted as limited to the general meaning and dictionary meaning, but should be interpreted according to the meaning and concept corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure based on the principle of allowing the inventor to appropriately define the terms for the best interpretation. Therefore, the configurations proposed in the embodiments of this specification and the accompanying drawings only indicate the most preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and do not represent all technical concepts of the present disclosure, so it should be understood that various equivalent substitutions and modifications may be made to them when submitting this application.

[0044] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partially exploded perspective view of the battery pack in FIG. Figure 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a gas exhaust path, a cooling medium channel, and a battery pack tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 4 is along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the right side wall taken along line BB' in FIG. Figure 5 is along Figure 3 A schematic cross-sectional view of the front side wall taken along line CC' in FIG. Figure 6 is along Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack taken along the line AA' in FIG. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a cooling operation of a gas exhaust path of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] 1 . Referring to these drawings, a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery modules 100 , a pack case 200 , and an exhaust path cooling unit 300 .

[0046] The battery module 100 may indicate an energy storage body in which the battery cells 120 are electrically connected to have a predetermined capacity and output. The battery module 100 may be configured to include the battery cells 120, components (not shown) for electrically connecting the battery cells (such as bus bars), components (not shown) for sensing the voltage of the battery cells, and a module case capable of integrally accommodating the above components and the battery cells 120.

[0047] The battery cell 120 may be any type of battery cell 120 known at the time of filing the present disclosure. For example, any type of battery cell 120 such as a substantially cylindrical or square can-type battery cell in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are stored and sealed in a metal can-type casing, a substantially plate-shaped pouch-type battery cell in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are stored and sealed in a pouch-type casing, etc. may be applied to the battery module 100.

[0048] The module housing is a structure that supports the battery cell 120 so that the battery cell 120 does not move and protects the battery cell 120 from external impact, and the module housing may be made of a material having high mechanical rigidity. In the present embodiment, the module housing may be substantially configured in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped box including four side portions covering the front, rear, left, and right sides of the battery cell 120 and upper and lower portions covering the top and bottom of the battery cell 120.

[0049] In particular, the battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the sensor member 110. The sensor member 110 may include at least one of a temperature sensor sensing a temperature change of the battery module 100 and a gas sensor sensing a gas generated from the battery module 100.

[0050] The sensor component 110 can be attached to the outside or inside of the module housing. In addition, the sensor component 110 can be configured to perform wired communication or wireless communication with the coolant controller 320 of the exhaust path cooling unit 300, which will be described later. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 100, a danger signal can be transmitted from the sensor component 110 to the coolant controller 320 or other external devices. For example, the external device may include an electronic control unit (ECU) of an electric vehicle in which the battery pack 10 is installed. In this case, based on the danger signal, a warning message and a warning sound can be displayed on a display by the ECU in the vehicle, allowing the driver to respond quickly to it.

[0051] The battery pack housing 200 is configured to accommodate a plurality of battery modules 100. For example, the battery pack housing 200 includes a battery pack tray 210 and a battery pack cover 220. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The pack tray 210 is configured in the form of a box having a top opening to accommodate the battery module 100 therein, and the pack cover 220 may be configured in the form of a plate capable of covering the top opening of the pack tray 210 .

[0052] More specifically, the battery pack tray 210 may include a base plate 215, a wall frame 211, and a partition 216. Figure 2 As shown. The base plate 215 may be configured in the form of a plate having a large area capable of supporting the bottom of the plurality of battery modules 100. In addition, as will be described later, the base plate 215 may include bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F (through which a cooling medium may flow) therein to serve as a heat sink.

[0053] The partition 216 is a structure provided on the upper surface of the base plate 215, and partitions the inner space of the battery pack tray 210 horizontally or vertically. Figure 2As shown, the inner space of the battery pack tray 210 is partitioned by partitions 216 , and the battery module 100 may be placed in the partitioned space.

[0054] In an environment where external shock or vibration is applied, these partitions 216 are used to prevent deformation of the battery pack tray 210 by absorbing the shock or vibration. In addition, the partitions 216 also serve as a firewall to prevent the transfer of heat or flames between the battery modules 100 when a fire occurs inside the battery pack 10.

[0055] The wall frame 211 is a side member of the battery pack tray 210 , and may be disposed along a circumference of the base plate 215 while standing upright on the base plate 215 , forming a wall surrounding the plurality of battery modules 100 .

[0056] In particular, the wall frame 211 has therein a gas exhaust path 212 communicating with the battery module 100. Here, the gas exhaust path 212 indicates a gas or flame exhaust path for exhausting high temperature gas or flame emitted from the battery module 100 to the outside of the battery pack 10.

[0057] like Figure 3 As shown, the wall frame 211 may include gas inflow walls 211a and 211b, the gas inflow walls 211a and 211b having a gas exhaust path 212 and at least one gas inlet 212a, the gas inlet 212a being connected to the battery module so that the gas generated from the battery module 100 flows into the gas exhaust path 212, and the gas exhaust wall 211c having a gas exhaust path 212 and at least one gas outlet 212b, and the gas is discharged from the gas exhaust path 212 to the outside of the battery pack housing 200 through the gas outlet 212b.

[0058] According to this configuration, if a thermal event occurs in any battery module 100 inside the battery pack 10 of the present disclosure, high-temperature gas or flame may move along the inside of the wall frame 211, and may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack case 200 through the gas outlet 212b provided at one side of the battery pack case 200. In this case, it is possible to minimize the development of high-temperature gas or flame emitted from the battery module 100 into the internal space of the battery pack case 200 and discharge it to the outside of the battery pack 10. Therefore, it is possible to suppress chain fire or explosion of the battery pack 10 due to heat accumulation inside the battery pack 10, increase in internal pressure, heat propagation between the battery modules 100, and the like.

[0059] More specifically, if Figure 2 As shown, the wall frame 211 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can be arranged along the periphery of the substrate 215 while standing upright on the substrate 215, and can include a right side wall 211a, a left side wall 211b, a front side wall 211c and a rear side wall 211d surrounding the battery module 100.

[0060] like Figure 3 As shown, the right side wall 211a and the left side wall 211b may have a gas exhaust path 212 disposed inside the wall, and a gas inlet 212a disposed on the inner wall surface to connect to the battery module 100. For example, each battery module 100 may also include a module exhaust pipe 130, and the module exhaust pipe 130 and the gas inlet 212a may be configured to be interconnected. Therefore, the gas or flame inside each battery module 100 may flow into the gas exhaust path 212 through the module exhaust pipe 130 and the gas inlet 212a. That is, in the present embodiment, the right side wall 211a and the left side wall 211b correspond to the gas inlet wall.

[0061] like Figure 3 As shown, the front side wall 211c may have a gas exhaust path 212 disposed inside the wall and a gas outlet 212b disposed on the outer wall surface to communicate with the gas exhaust path 212. Preferably, a metal mesh may be further coupled to the gas outlet 212b to prevent high temperature particles or flames from easily passing therethrough.

[0062] The front side wall 211c has two gas exhaust paths 212. Figure 3 , the gas exhaust path 212 on the right side of the front side wall 211c is connected to the gas exhaust path 212 of the right side wall 211a, and the gas exhaust path 212 on the left side of the front side wall 211c is connected to the gas exhaust path 212 of the left side wall 211b. Therefore, for example, the gas generated from the battery module 100 arranged on the right side may flow into the gas exhaust path 212 of the right side wall 211a and move to the gas exhaust path 212 on the right side of the front side wall 211c, and then may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack case 200 through the gas outlet 212b on the right side. In addition, the gas generated from the battery module 100 arranged on the left side may flow into the gas exhaust path 212 of the left side wall 211b and move to the gas exhaust path 212 on the left side of the front side wall 211c, and then may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack case 200 through the gas outlet 212b on the left side. That is, in the present embodiment, the front side wall 211c corresponds to the gas exhaust wall.

[0063] Although the present embodiment shows that the wall frame 211 is configured so that the right side wall 211a and the left side wall 211b correspond to the gas inflow wall and the front side wall corresponds to the gas exhaust wall, the positions of the gas inflow wall and the gas exhaust wall (not limited thereto) may vary depending on, for example, the arrangement of the battery module 100.

[0064] Meanwhile, when high-temperature gas and flame generated from the battery module 100 move through the gas exhaust path 212 in the wall frame 211, the temperature of the wall frame 211 may significantly increase, which causes the heat of the wall frame 211 to be transferred to other battery modules 100. In addition, if a large amount of high-temperature gas or flame is discharged to the outside of the battery pack 10, there is a risk that a fire may quickly develop to the structure outside the battery pack 10.

[0065] The battery pack according to the present disclosure can eliminate the above-mentioned risks through the exhaust path cooling unit 300. Hereinafter, the exhaust path cooling unit 300 will be described in detail.

[0066] The exhaust path cooling unit 300 may be configured to flow a cooling medium through the wall frame 211 based on a danger signal generated from the sensor member 110 of each battery module 100 , thereby cooling the gas exhaust path 212 .

[0067] refer to Figures 3 to 7 The exhaust path cooling unit 300 may include a cooling medium channel 310 that provides a passage for moving the cooling medium inside and outside the wall frame 211 and a coolant controller 320 that receives a danger signal from the sensor member 110 and circulates the cooling medium through the cooling medium channel 310 .

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown, the cooling medium channel 310 includes an inner wall channel 311 and an outer wall channel 312 . The inner wall channel 311 is disposed inside the wall frame 211 where the gas exhaust path 212 is located, and the outer wall channel 312 is communicated with the inner wall channel 311 and disposed outside the wall frame 211 .

[0069] Similar to the gas exhaust path 212, the wall internal channel 311 can be arranged inside the gas inflow wall and the gas exhaust wall. That is, in this embodiment, the wall internal channel 311 is arranged inside the right side wall 211a, the left side wall 211b and the front side wall 211c of the wall frame 211 where the gas exhaust path 212 is located.

[0070] For example, Figure 4 As shown, the right side wall 211a of the wall frame 211 may be provided with a gas exhaust path 212 and a wall inner channel 311 surrounding the gas exhaust path 212, and as shown in FIG. Figure 5As shown, the front side wall 211c of the wall frame 211 may be provided with a gas exhaust path 212 and a wall internal channel 311 surrounding the gas exhaust path 212. In addition, the wall internal channel 311 of the right side wall 211a and the wall internal channel 311 of the front side wall 211c may be connected to intersect with each other. Similarly, the left side wall 211b of the wall frame 211 may also be provided with a wall internal channel 311, and the wall internal channel 311 of the left side wall 211b may be connected to the wall internal channel 311 of the front side wall 211c adjacent to the wall internal channel 311 of the left side wall 211b to intersect with each other.

[0071] At least a portion of the cooling medium passage 310 may extend parallel to the gas exhaust path 212. In addition, the cooling medium passage 310 may be configured in the form of a circular track around the gas exhaust path 212, such as Figure 3 as shown in .

[0072] For example, Figure 4 As shown, the internal wall channel 311 includes a first straight section 311a and a second straight section 311c extending parallel to the gas exhaust path 212 above and below the gas exhaust path 212 of the right side wall 211a, respectively, and a first curved section 311b surrounding one end of the gas exhaust path 212 and connecting the first straight section 311a and the second straight section 311c.

[0073] In addition, if Figure 5 As shown, the wall internal channel 311 includes a third straight section 311d and a fourth straight section 311f extending parallel to the gas exhaust path 212 above and below the gas exhaust path 212 of the front side wall 211c, respectively, and a second curved section 311e surrounding the other end of the gas exhaust path 212 and connecting the third straight section 311d and the fourth straight section 311f. In addition, the first straight section 311a and the third straight section 311d can be connected to intersect each other, and the second straight section 311c and the fourth straight section 311f can be connected to intersect each other. The wall frame 211 including the wall internal channel 311 and the gas exhaust path 212 can be made of a heat-conducting metal material. Therefore, if the cooling medium flows through the cooling medium channel 310, heat exchange can occur between the cooling medium channel 310 and the gas exhaust path 212, thereby cooling the gas exhaust path 212.

[0074] According to the configuration of this implementation, since the wall inner passage 311 is provided to surround the entire gas exhaust path 212, the gas exhaust path 212 can be cooled more effectively and strongly. Therefore, when the high-temperature gas or flame moves along the cooled gas exhaust path 212, the high-temperature gas or flame may lose heat, thereby extinguishing the flame, and the gas in a low-temperature state can be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 10.

[0075] The wall outer channel 312 may be configured in the form of a tube disposed outside the wall frame 211 to be connected to the wall inner channel 311, such as Figure 2 In addition, a pair of wall external channels 312 may be provided. The cooling medium may enter the wall internal channel 311 through one of the two wall external channels 312 and leave the wall internal channel 311 through the other of the two wall external channels 312.

[0076] The wall frame 211 may have a channel connector 213 on at least one side. The wall inner channel 311 and the wall outer channel 312 may be configured to be connected and disconnected from each other through the channel connector 213.

[0077] For example, Figure 2 As shown, a pair of channel connectors 213 can be provided in the area where the right side wall 211a and the front side wall 211c intersect and in the area where the left side wall 211b and the front side wall 211c intersect. The channel connector 213 can be configured so that a portion thereof is communicated with the wall inner channel 311 inside the wall frame 211, and the remaining portion thereof protrudes outward from the wall frame 211. In addition, the outer peripheral portion of the channel connector 213 and the inner peripheral portion of the wall outer channel 312 can be configured to be fastened by threaded connection. In this case, the wall inner channel 311 and the wall outer channel 312 are easily connected, and the wall outer channel 312 is not easily separated from the wall inner channel 311 after connection, even when high water pressure is applied thereto.

[0078] According to the configuration of this implementation, the cooling medium can be easily supplied from the outside of the battery pack case 200 to the inside of the wall frame 211. Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown by the arrows in , the cooling medium can flow along the wall internal channel 311 of the right side wall 211a and the wall internal channel 311 of the front side wall 211c, and the cooling medium that has absorbed heat can be discharged back to the outside of the battery pack housing 200 through the wall external channel 312.

[0079] Next, we will refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 An example of the operation of cooling the gas exhaust path 212 of the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described.

[0080] like Figure 6 As shown, each battery module 100 may be configured such that the module exhaust pipe 130 is connected to the gas inlet 212a of the gas exhaust path 212. That is, the battery pack 10 of the present disclosure may be configured such that all battery modules 100 are in communication with the gas exhaust path 212 of the right side wall 211a or the gas exhaust path 212 of the left side wall 211b.

[0081] like Figure 7 As shown, for example, if a thermal event occurs in the third battery module 100 and the fifth battery module 100 , the sensor component 110 of the third battery module 100 and the sensor component 110 in the fifth battery module 100 detect the thermal event and transmit a danger signal to the coolant controller 320 .

[0082] Here, the sensor member 110 may be configured to transmit a danger signal to the coolant controller 320 if a state in which a temperature change rate of the battery module 100 is greater than 1 degree Celsius (dT / dt is greater than 1° C.) based on a predetermined threshold temperature continues for 3 seconds or more. Here, the predetermined threshold temperature may indicate a maximum value within a normal temperature range of the battery module 100 when the battery cells 120 are charged and discharged.

[0083] The above-mentioned operating condition of the sensor member 110 is due to the fact that, based on a predetermined threshold temperature, if the temperature change rate of the battery module 100 is equal to or less than 1 degree Celsius, or if the state in which the temperature change rate of the battery module 100 is greater than 1 degree Celsius does not last for 3 seconds or more, it can be regarded as a normal temperature change when the battery module 100 is in operation, and therefore, in this case, it is not necessary to supply a cooling medium to the wall frame 211. However, if the state in which the temperature change rate of the battery module 100 is greater than 1 degree Celsius lasts for 3 seconds or more based on the threshold temperature, the battery module 100 is likely to catch fire over time. In this case, it is necessary to cool the gas exhaust path 212 by pre-supplying a cooling medium before the battery module 100 catches fire.

[0084] The coolant controller 320 may optionally include a cooling chiller connected to the cooling medium channel 310, a communication modem capable of communicating with the sensor member 110, other processors known in the art, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), logic circuits, registers, data processing devices, etc.

[0085] As described above, if a danger signal is transmitted from the sensor member 110 of the third battery module 100 and the sensor member 110 of the fifth battery module 100 to the coolant controller 320, the cooling cooler may operate so that the cooling medium circulates through the cooling medium channel 310, and thus the wall frame 211 and the gas exhaust path 212 disposed therein may be cooled. In this case, when the gas and flame released from the third battery module 100 and the fifth battery module 100 move along the cooled gas exhaust path 212, the heat may be dissipated and the flame may be extinguished, so that the gas may be cooled, and then discharged to the outside of the battery pack housing 200 through the gas outlet 212b.

[0086] As described above, according to the configuration of the present disclosure, when a fire occurs in the battery pack 10 , it is possible to suppress high-temperature gas and flames from being strongly discharged to the outside of the battery pack 10 , thereby improving the fire safety of the battery pack 10 .

[0087] Figure 8 is a perspective view of a battery pack viewed from the bottom according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 9 It is schematically shown Figure 8 A diagram of the configuration of the cooling system of the battery pack, and Fig.10 and Fig.11 It shows that when Figure 8 Diagram of the flow of cooling water when a thermal event occurs in a battery module of a battery pack.

[0088] A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Compared with the battery pack according to the above-described embodiment, the battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an element capable of cooling the battery module 100 .

[0089] For example, Figure 8 As shown, a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F inside the base plate 215 of the battery pack tray 210 .

[0090] A plurality of bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F may be provided in respective sections of the base plate 215 corresponding to positions of respective battery modules 100 so as to allow a cooling medium to flow therethrough.

[0091] That is to say, reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 , Figure 7 The first to sixth battery modules 100 and Figure 8 The six bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F are arranged at positions corresponding to each other. Therefore, the corresponding battery module 100 can be strongly cooled by the corresponding bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F.

[0092] In addition, if Fig. 9 As shown, the bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F may be connected to an inlet pipe IP and an outlet pipe OP connected from the outside of the battery pack case 200. In addition, the inlet pipe IP and the outlet pipe OP may be connected to the coolant controller 320. In addition, flow control valves may be provided at portions of the corresponding bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F branching from the inlet pipe IP and at portions of the corresponding bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F branching from the outlet pipe OP. The flow rate of the cooling medium supplied to the corresponding bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F may be controlled by opening and closing the flow control valves.

[0093] In addition, although not shown in detail in the drawings for convenience, the cooling medium can flow into the bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F through the inlet pipe IP, absorb heat from the battery module 100, leave the battery pack housing 200 through the outlet pipe OP, and move to the coolant controller 320, and can move along the inlet pipe IP and re-enter the corresponding bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F after being cooled in the coolant controller 320.

[0094] In particular, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the coolant controller 320 can be configured to selectively supply cooling medium to the bottom plate fluid channels 217A to 217F based on the danger signal generated by the sensor component 110, so that the cooling medium can flow strongly in the section of the substrate 215 where other battery modules 100 adjacent to the battery module 100 transmitting the danger signal are located among the multiple battery modules 100.

[0095] For example, Fig.10 As shown, if in the fifth battery module 100 (see Figure 7 ), the second battery module, the fourth battery module, and the sixth battery module 100 adjacent to the fifth battery module 100 may be strongly cooled to delay the propagation of heat from the fifth battery module 100 to the adjacent second battery module, the fourth battery module, and the sixth battery module 100 to the greatest extent. At this time, the flow control valve may be opened and closed according to a control signal from the coolant controller 320, such as Fig.10 Therefore, the cooling medium can flow strongly through the bottom plate fluid channels 217B, 217D, and 217F corresponding to the second battery module, the fourth battery module, and the sixth battery module 100, thereby strongly cooling the second battery module, the fourth battery module, and the sixth battery module 100.

[0096] As another example, Fig.11 As shown, if in the second battery module 100 (see Figure 7 ), the first battery module, the third battery module, and the fifth battery module 100 may be strongly cooled to delay the propagation of heat from the second battery module 100 to the first battery module, the third battery module, and the fifth battery module 100 to the greatest extent. Fig.11 As shown, the flow control valve may be opened and closed according to a control signal from the coolant controller 320. Therefore, the cooling medium may flow strongly through the bottom plate fluid channels 217A, 217C, and 217E corresponding to the first battery module, the third battery module, and the fifth battery module 100, thereby strongly cooling the first battery module, the third battery module, and the fifth battery module 100.

[0097] Generally, a plurality of battery modules 100 are densely arranged in a battery pack. Therefore, other battery modules 100 adjacent to the battery module 100 where the event occurs are thermally damaged, and if this situation worsens, a chain fire quickly occurs in the battery modules 100 other than the triggering battery module 100, thereby reducing the fire safety of the battery pack.

[0098] However, according to the above configuration, based on the triggering battery module 100 where the event occurs, other battery modules 100 adjacent thereto may be intensively cooled, thereby preventing heat from developing around the triggering battery module 100 to the greatest extent.

[0099] At the same time, reference Fig.12 The vehicle 1 according to the present disclosure may be configured to include the above-described battery pack 10 according to the present disclosure, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 20, an inverter 30, and a motor 40. Preferably, the vehicle 1 may be an electric vehicle.

[0100] The battery pack 10 can be used as an electric energy source to drive the vehicle 1 by providing a driving force to the motor 40. The battery pack 10 can be charged or discharged by the inverter 30 according to the drive of the motor 40 and / or the internal combustion engine (not shown). The battery pack 10 can be charged by a regenerative charging device combined with a brake. The battery pack 10 can be electrically connected to the motor 40 of the vehicle through the inverter 30.

[0101] The ECU 20 is an electronic control device that controls the state of the vehicle 1. For example, it determines torque information based on information such as accelerator, brake, speed, etc., and outputs the motor 40 to conform to the torque information. In addition, the ECU 20 transmits a control signal to the inverter 30 so that the battery pack 10 can be charged or discharged based on the state information such as SOC and SOH of the battery pack 10 received from the BMS. The inverter 30 charges or discharges the battery pack 10 based on the control signal from the ECU 610. The motor 40 drives the vehicle 1 using the electric energy of the battery pack 10 based on the control information (e.g., torque information) transmitted from the ECU 20.

[0102] As described above, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various modifications and changes within the technical concept of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the appended claims.

[0103] In addition, although terms indicating directions such as upward, downward, left, right, forward, and backward are used in this specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms are only for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0104] As described above, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs may make various modifications and changes within the technical concept of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the appended claims.

[0105] In addition, although terms indicating directions such as upward, downward, left, right, forward, and backward are used in this specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms are only for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery modules, each of the plurality of battery modules having a sensor member configured to detect gas or heat; a battery pack housing including a wall frame having a gas exhaust path disposed therein to communicate with the battery module and surrounding the battery module; as well as An exhaust path cooling unit is configured to cool the gas exhaust path by flowing a cooling medium through the wall frame based on a danger signal generated from the sensor member.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The exhaust path cooling unit comprises: a cooling medium channel configured to provide a passage for moving the cooling medium inside and outside the wall frame; and A coolant controller is configured to receive the hazard signal from the sensor member and circulate the cooling medium through the cooling medium passage.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, The cooling medium channel comprises: An inner wall channel and an outer wall channel, wherein the inner wall channel is disposed inside the wall frame where the gas exhaust path is located, and the outer wall channel is communicated with the inner wall channel and disposed outside the wall frame.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, in, The wall frame includes a channel connector on at least one side, and Wherein, the wall inner channel and the wall outer channel are configured to be connected and disconnected by the channel connector.

5. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, The battery pack housing comprises: a battery pack tray including a base plate configured to support bottoms of the plurality of battery modules, and the wall frame disposed along a periphery of the base plate while standing upright on the base plate; and A battery pack cover is configured to cover a top opening of the battery pack tray.

6. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, The wall frame is made of a heat conductive material so that the cooling medium channel and the gas exhaust path exchange heat with each other.

7. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, The wall frame comprises: a gas inflow wall including the gas exhaust path and at least one gas inlet connected to the battery module to allow gas to flow from the battery module into the gas exhaust path; and A gas discharge wall includes the gas exhaust path and a gas outlet configured to discharge the gas from the gas exhaust path to the outside of the battery pack case.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, in, At least a portion of the cooling medium passage extends parallel to the gas exhaust path inside the gas inflow wall and the gas exhaust wall.

9. The battery pack according to claim 7, in, The cooling medium passage is configured in the form of a circular track surrounding the gas exhaust path inside the gas inflow wall and the gas discharge wall.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The sensor member includes at least one of a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature change of the battery module and a gas sensor configured to sense a gas generated from the battery module.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The sensor member is configured to transmit the danger signal to the exhaust path cooling unit if a state in which a rate of temperature change of the battery module is greater than 1 degree Celsius (dT / dt>1° C.) based on a predetermined threshold temperature continues for 3 seconds or more.

12. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The battery pack tray comprises: A partition is disposed on an upper surface of the base plate and is configured to partition an inner space of the battery pack tray horizontally or vertically.

13. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The substrate includes a bottom plate fluid channel therein, and Wherein, a plurality of bottom plate fluid channels are respectively arranged in sections of the base plate corresponding to positions of corresponding battery modules, so that the cooling medium flows in the corresponding sections.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, in, The coolant controller is configured to selectively supply the cooling medium to the base plate fluid channel based on the danger signal, so that the cooling medium flows strongly in a section of the base plate where other battery modules among the plurality of battery modules adjacent to the battery module transmitting the danger signal are located.

15. A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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