Battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery modules, each battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells; a pack case provided to accommodate the plurality of battery modules; and a cartridge provided on the pack case and configured such that carbon dioxide stored therein is discharged toward the outside of the pack case.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery pack. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a battery pack capable of suppressing or extinguishing a flame occurring outside a battery pack case by detecting temperature and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0073813 filed in Korea on June 8, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries that are easy to apply according to product groups and have electrical characteristics such as high energy density are generally used in electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) driven by electric drive sources and portable devices. These secondary batteries have attracted attention as new energy sources for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency due to the main advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels and another advantage of not producing byproducts generated by energy use.

[0004] Currently widely used secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc. If a higher output voltage is required, a battery module or battery pack can be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series. In addition, a battery module or battery pack can be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel so as to increase the charge / discharge capacity. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery module or battery pack can be set in various ways according to the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] In addition, a common method of configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series / parallel is to preferentially configure a battery module including at least one battery cell and then add other elements using the at least one battery module to configure a battery pack or a battery rack.

[0006] In the case of a conventional battery pack, the internal temperature may rise due to abnormality or misuse of the battery cell, which may cause the internal pressure of the battery cell to increase. Due to this internal pressure, high-temperature gas may be discharged from the battery cell, which is very dangerous because the high-temperature exhaust gas may spread to adjacent battery modules and cause thermal runaway.

[0007] Furthermore, generally, when gas is ejected from a battery cell, an electrode plate or an active material sheet inside the battery cell may be heated to a high temperature and discharged to the outside, and these high-temperature particles may appear in the form of sparks.

[0008] In this conventional battery pack, when an abnormal situation occurs in a specific battery cell or battery module, the high-temperature gas is discharged through an exhaust device provided in the battery pack housing to discharge the high-temperature gas to the outside of the battery pack housing. At this time, if sparks are discharged to the outside together with the gas, they may react with the oxygen outside the battery pack to generate flames or develop into a fire. In addition, if a flame or fire occurs outside a specific battery pack, the fire, etc. may spread to other adjacent battery packs or devices equipped with the battery pack, causing greater problems, such as explosions. In this case, if the flame occurring outside the battery pack is not extinguished early, it may spread to other adjacent battery modules inside the battery pack.

[0009] Therefore, if a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell or battery module, the battery pack is required to remove fuel, oxygen, and heat, which are elements that cause flames, to prevent high-temperature gas or sparks from reacting with oxygen outside the battery pack and generating flames. In addition, even if flames are generated, they need to be extinguished at an early stage to prevent or delay the spread of flames to other battery modules. Summary of the invention

[0010] Technical issues

[0011] The present disclosure aims to solve the problems of the prior art, and therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery pack, which can ensure safety and reliability by suppressing flames generated outside the battery pack housing when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell or a battery module.

[0012] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above problems, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other problems not mentioned above from the description of the present invention described below.

[0013] Technical Solution

[0014] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery modules, the plurality of battery modules comprising a plurality of battery cells; a battery pack case, the battery pack case being configured to accommodate the plurality of battery modules; and a cartridge disposed in the battery pack case and configured to release carbon dioxide stored therein to the outside of the battery pack case.

[0015] The battery pack housing may include: a bottom frame configured to constitute a lower surface of the battery pack housing and the plurality of battery modules are disposed on the bottom frame; and a side frame extending upward from the bottom frame to constitute an outer surface of the battery pack housing, and at least a portion of the barrel may be connected to the side frame.

[0016] Each of the plurality of battery modules may include a thermistor configured to measure a temperature of a gas generated in the battery module, and if the temperature of the gas measured by the thermistor is equal to or greater than a first value and if a temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than a second value, carbon dioxide stored inside the cartridge may be released to the outside of the battery pack case.

[0017] For example, if the first value is 200° C. and the second value is 1° C. / second, carbon dioxide may be released from the cartridge.

[0018] The cartridge may include a cartridge unit including a storage portion having a space for storing carbon dioxide therein and a release portion extending from the storage portion and configured to release the carbon dioxide.

[0019] The diameter of the release portion may be smaller than the diameter of the storage portion.

[0020] The cartridge may further include an operation unit connected to the barrel unit and configured to cause the barrel unit to release carbon dioxide if the temperature measured by the thermistor is equal to or greater than the first value and if the temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than the second value.

[0021] The operation unit may be disposed in a space between the side frame and the plurality of battery modules.

[0022] The battery pack case may have a space in which the operation unit is disposed.

[0023] The battery pack of the present disclosure may further include a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a flame generated outside the battery pack housing, and if the temperature of the flame measured by the temperature sensor is a third value, the carbon dioxide stored inside the cartridge may be released to the outside of the battery pack housing.

[0024] The temperature sensor may be disposed on the side frame and configured to measure a temperature of the flame.

[0025] If the third value is 800° C. to 1000° C., carbon dioxide may be released from the cartridge.

[0026] The battery pack housing may include an exhaust device disposed on the side frame and configured to exhaust gas generated in the battery module to the outside of the battery pack housing, and the cartridge may be configured to release carbon dioxide stored therein to remove oxygen around the exhaust device.

[0027] The barrel may be arranged side by side with the exhaust device in a horizontal direction.

[0028] A plurality of cartridges and a plurality of exhaust devices may be provided, and a plurality of units including one or more cartridges and an exhaust device may be provided, and the plurality of units may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of the side frame.

[0029] The battery pack case may further include a cross beam configured to connect at least portions of the side frames to each other and to separate the plurality of battery modules, and the plurality of cells may be symmetrically disposed on both sides of the cross beam.

[0030] The battery pack case may further include a partition extending from the cross beam and configured to separate the plurality of battery modules.

[0031] In addition, the present disclosure also provides a vehicle, which includes the battery pack according to the present disclosure.

[0032] Beneficial Effects

[0033] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress generation of flame outside a battery pack case by removing elements that may cause flame in the event of an abnormality in a battery cell or a battery module, thereby ensuring safety and reliability.

[0034] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, even if a flame is generated outside the battery pack case in the event of an abnormality in a battery cell or a battery module, the flame can be extinguished at an early stage, thereby preventing subsequent chain fire.

[0035] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, even if a flame is generated outside the battery pack case when an abnormality occurs in a battery cell or a battery module, thermal damage to other battery modules can be prevented to the greatest extent, thereby effectively ensuring heat propagation prevention performance in the battery pack.

[0036] Furthermore, the present disclosure may have various other effects, and these effects will be described in each embodiment, or description of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the detailed description of the present invention, are used to provide further understanding of the technical concept of the present disclosure, and therefore, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 4 is a diagram showing a direction in which a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure operates in a battery pack.

[0042] Figure 5 is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG.

[0043] Figure 6 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the position of an operating unit of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the position of an operating unit of a cartridge according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the location of a temperature sensor in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Fig.10 is a perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Below, 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 and dictionary meanings, but are interpreted based on the principle that the inventor is allowed to appropriately define the terms for the best interpretation, based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure.

[0049] Therefore, the configurations proposed in the embodiments of this specification and the drawings only indicate the most preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than representing all technical ideas of the present disclosure, and therefore it should be understood that various equivalents and modifications may be made thereto when the present application is filed.

[0050] For ease of explanation and illustration, the sizes of the various elements shown in the drawings or specific parts of each element are exaggerated, omitted or simplified. Therefore, the sizes of the various elements do not fully reflect their actual sizes. Descriptions of related known functions or configurations that may obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure will be omitted. For reference, in this specification, terms indicating directions are based on the elements shown in the drawings and are relative terms that may vary according to the posture or position of the actual elements.

[0051] In addition, although terms indicating directions such as upward, downward, left, right, forward and backward directions are used in this specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms are only for convenience of description and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0052] For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the X-axis direction shown in the figure may represent the front-to-back direction, the Y-axis direction may represent the left-right direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on a plane (XY plane), and the Z-axis direction may represent the up-down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0053] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery module 100 , a pack case 200 , and a cartridge 300 .

[0055] The battery module 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110. The battery cells 110 may be any type of secondary battery, such as a prismatic battery cell, a cylindrical battery cell, or a pouch-type battery cell. Figure 3 As shown, the present embodiment will be described based on the battery cell 110 which is a pouch-type battery cell.

[0056] The present disclosure is not limited to a specific type or form of battery cells 110, and various battery cells 110 known at the time of filing the present disclosure may be used to constitute the battery module 100 of the present disclosure. Although the present embodiment shows a pouch-type secondary battery having high energy density and easy to stack, as an example, a cylindrical or prismatic secondary battery may also be applied to the battery cell 110 as shown in the figure.

[0057] A plurality of battery cells 110 may be arranged in columns and rows within the battery module 100. For example, Figure 3 As shown, the plurality of battery cells 110 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0058] The battery pack 10 may include a plurality of battery modules 100, each of which includes a plurality of the above-mentioned battery cells 110. Figure 2 As shown, a plurality of battery modules 100 may be arranged side by side in a row in a horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction).

[0059] The battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a pack case 200. The pack case 200 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery modules 100. A detailed structure of the pack case 200 will be described later.

[0060] The battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cartridge 300. The cartridge 300 may be configured to store carbon dioxide therein. Carbon dioxide may be stored in a liquid state under high pressure in the cartridge 300. For example, the cartridge 300 may be a commercially available product for inflating a bicycle tire by injecting carbon dioxide. The cartridge 300 may be used together with an inflator or an adapter.

[0061] The cartridge 300 may be disposed in the pack case 200. The cartridge 300 may be configured to release carbon dioxide stored therein to the outside of the pack case 200.

[0062] Specifically, carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen, so when carbon dioxide is released into combustible materials, carbon dioxide forms a non-combustible layer on the surface of the combustible material, thereby blocking the supply of oxygen, which is one of the elements that cause flames. In addition, carbon dioxide absorbs a large amount of heat when evaporating because it has a very high latent heat of evaporation. Therefore, in the case of a flame, the carbon dioxide stored in a liquid state inside the barrel 300 can evaporate when released to the outside of the barrel 300, thereby absorbing heat from the surrounding air to cool it to below the ignition point and extinguishing the flame accordingly. Although the present embodiment shows the carbon dioxide stored in the barrel 300, other fire extinguishing agents may also be applied.

[0063] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, it is possible to ensure safety and reliability by blocking the supply of oxygen, which is an element causing flames, and thereby suppressing the occurrence of flames outside the battery pack case 200 .

[0064] Furthermore, according to the above-described implementation configuration of the present disclosure, even if a flame is generated outside the pack case 200 , the flame can be extinguished by removing heat as an element causing the flame through carbon dioxide released from the cartridge 300 , thereby ensuring safety and reliability.

[0065] In addition, refer to Figure 2 , the battery pack case 200 may include a bottom frame 210 and a side frame 220 .

[0066] The bottom frame 210 may be provided to constitute a lower surface of the pack case 200. Therefore, a plurality of battery modules 100 may be mounted on the bottom frame 210. In the configuration of this implementation, the bottom frame 210 may be configured in the form of a square plate.

[0067] The side frames 220 may be provided to extend upward from respective edges of the bottom frame 210. The side frames 220 may be provided to surround the plurality of battery modules 100. For example, in the present implementation configuration, the side frames 220 may include walls extending in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0068] At least a portion of the cartridge 300 may be coupled to the side frame 220 of the battery pack case 200. For example, Figure 2 As shown, at least a portion of the cartridge 300 may be coupled to the side frame 220 in the −Y-axis direction. In this case, the cartridge 300 may be coupled to face the outside of the pack case 200.

[0069] In addition, refer to Figure 2 , the battery pack case 200 may include a battery pack cover 230 configured to cover the top of the battery module 100 .

[0070] In addition, reference will be made to Figure 3 A detailed structure of the battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described. The battery module 100 according to the present embodiment may include a case body 120 and end plates 130 provided on the front and rear surfaces of the case body 120 .

[0071] The shell body 120 may be configured in the shape of a square tube of a hollow structure having open ends O at both ends in the longitudinal direction and having an empty space therein. For example, the shell body 120 may be configured in the form of a tube having upper, lower, left and right surfaces, and having openings formed at the front and rear ends, respectively.

[0072] In addition, the shell body 120 can be formed into various other shapes. For example, the shell body 120 can be configured in a form in which the left plate, the right plate and the bottom plate are integrated with each other. In this case, the integrated shell part can be referred to as a U-shaped frame. The top plate can be welded to the top of the U-shaped frame to configure a tubular shape. Alternatively, the shell body 120 can include a box-shaped lower shell in which the left plate, the right plate, the front plate and the rear plate are integrated with each other, and an upper cover that closes the top opening of the lower shell.

[0073] In addition, the shell body 120 may be configured so that the battery cell 110 can be inserted thereinto in one direction. For example, the battery cell 110 may be inserted into the shell body 120 in the front-to-back direction (X-axis direction). That is, the shell body 120 may be configured to insert the battery cell 110 thereinto using a sliding or press-fitting method. For the press-fitting, there may be almost no gap between the upper and lower surfaces of the shell body 120 and the upper and lower ends of the battery cell 110, and there may also be almost no gap between the two side surfaces of the shell body 120 and the two side portions of the battery cell 110.

[0074] The case main body 120 may be made of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance so as to physically or chemically protect the accommodated battery cells 110 .

[0075] In addition, a vent hole H may be provided on the shell body 120 so that exhaust can be directed in one direction. Figure 3 As shown, a plurality of exhaust holes H may be formed on the upper surface of the case body 120 so that directional exhaust in an upward direction of the battery module 100 may be performed through the exhaust holes H. Specifically, high-temperature gas exhausted from the battery cells 110 through the exhaust holes H may be exhausted to the outside of the battery pack case 200 through the exhaust device 240.

[0076] The end plate 130 may be provided to be coupled to the open end O of the case body 120. For example, the end plate 130 may have an inner side (facing the open end O) made of an insulating material and an outer side (constituting the exterior of the battery module 100) made of a metal material. In addition, the end plate 130 may at least partially have a hole or a slit through which the positive and negative terminals or connectors of the battery module 100 are exposed to the outside.

[0077] Figure 4 is a diagram showing the direction in which a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure operates in a battery pack, and Figure 5 is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view taken along line AA' in FIG.

[0078] Reference Figures 3 to 5 , each of the plurality of battery modules 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a thermistor 140 .

[0079] The thermistor 140 may be disposed inside the battery module 100 and configured to measure the temperature of the battery module 100 and / or the temperature of exhaust gas generated from the battery module 100. Whether a flame has been generated may be identified by the gas temperature measured by the thermistor 140. Figure 3 As shown, the thermistor 140 according to the embodiment may be attached to the upper surface of the battery module 100 provided with the exhaust hole H, and may measure the temperature of the exhaust gas. However, the thermistor 140 may be provided at any position as long as it can measure the temperature of the exhaust gas.

[0080] Specifically, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, if the gas temperature measured by the thermistor 140 reaches a first value, the carbon dioxide stored in the cartridge 300 may be released to the outside of the battery pack case 200. In addition, if the temperature increase rate of the gas measured by the thermistor 140 reaches a second value, the carbon dioxide stored in the cartridge 300 may be released to the outside of the battery pack case 200.

[0081] For example, in the case where the battery cell 110 or the battery module 100 is abnormal, the temperature of the battery module 100 may be between 200° C. and 300° C., and at the same time, the temperature of the battery module 100 may be significantly increased. If the gas temperature measured by the thermistor 140 is 200° C. (ie, a first value), and if the temperature increase rate of the gas measured by the thermistor 140 is 1° C. / second (ie, a second value), carbon dioxide may be released from the cartridge 300.

[0082] According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, it is possible to detect the risk of flame generation before the exhaust gas generated from the battery cell 110 is discharged to the outside of the battery pack case 200, encounters oxygen, and causes flame in the case of an abnormality in the battery cell 110. In addition, according to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of flame by blocking the supply of oxygen, which is an element that causes flame, in advance.

[0083] Figure 6 is a diagram showing a detailed structure of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0084] The cartridge 300 may include a cartridge unit 310. The cartridge unit 310 may include a storage portion 311 having a space for storing carbon dioxide therein and a release portion 312 extending from the storage portion 311 to release carbon dioxide. Figure 5 As shown, the storage portion 311 may be coupled to the pack case 200 , and in this case, the release portion 312 may be provided to protrude to the outside of the pack case 200 .

[0085] The diameter of the release portion 312 can be configured to be smaller than the diameter of the storage portion 311. Therefore, if a flame is generated outside the battery pack housing 200, carbon dioxide can be quickly released from the release portion 312. The release portion 312 can be made of a material having a lower melting point than the storage portion 311. The melting point of the release portion 312 can be similar to the temperature of the flame, so that the release portion 312 melts and carbon dioxide is released when the flame is generated. According to the configuration of the above-mentioned implementation of the present disclosure, the generation of flames can be suppressed by immediately clearing and removing exhaust gas and oxygen as elements that cause flames using carbon dioxide quickly released from the barrel 300.

[0086] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the position of an operating unit of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] In addition, the cartridge 300 may further include an operating unit 320. The operating unit 320 may be connected to the barrel unit 310, and if the gas temperature measured by the thermistor 140 is equal to or greater than the first value and if the temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than the second value, the barrel unit 310 may be caused to release carbon dioxide. The operating unit 320 may be provided in any configuration that allows carbon dioxide to be released from the barrel unit 310.

[0088] according to Figure 7 In the configuration of the implementation, the operating unit 320 may be provided in the space between the side frame 220 and the plurality of battery modules 100. For example, a plurality of barrel units 310 may be provided, and a plurality of operating units 320 may be provided to be respectively connected to the plurality of barrel units 310. According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, since the plurality of operating units 320 are respectively connected to the plurality of barrel units 310, carbon dioxide may be released from a specific barrel unit 310 according to the location where the flame occurs, thereby effectively suppressing or extinguishing the flame.

[0089] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the position of an operating unit of a cartridge according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0090] The battery pack housing 200 may have a space for disposing the operation unit 320. The space for disposing the operation unit 320 may be disposed in the side frame 220 or the cross beam 250. Figure 8 In the case where a space for installing the operating unit 320 is provided inside the beam 250 as shown, the operating unit 320 can be configured to be connected to the barrel units 310 provided on both sides of the beam 250, and if the gas temperature measured by the thermistor 140 is equal to or greater than a first value, and if the temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than a second value, the multiple barrel units 310 provided on both sides of the beam 250 release carbon dioxide.

[0091] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, the operating unit 320 can be connected to at least one or more cylinder units 310 so that when a flame is generated at a specific location, multiple cylinder units 310 can release carbon dioxide simultaneously, thereby suppressing or extinguishing the flame more quickly.

[0092] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the location of a temperature sensor in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0093] Reference Fig. 9The battery pack 10 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a temperature sensor 400. The temperature sensor 400 may be configured to measure the temperature of a flame generated outside the battery pack case 200. If the flame temperature measured by the temperature sensor 400 reaches a third value, the carbon dioxide stored inside the cartridge 300 may be released to the outside of the battery pack case 200.

[0094] For example, when the flame is generated, the flame temperature may reach 800° C. to 1000° C., and if the temperature of the flame measured by the temperature sensor 400 is between 800° C. and 1000° C. (ie, the third value), the cartridge 300 may release carbon dioxide.

[0095] The temperature sensor 400 may be disposed on the side frame 220 of the battery pack housing 200. For example, the temperature sensor 400 and the barrel 300 may be disposed side by side with each other. That is, the temperature sensor 400 may quickly identify whether a flame has been generated by directly measuring the flame temperature generated outside the battery pack housing 200.

[0096] Even if the temperature of the gas measured by the thermistor 140 is equal to or less than the first value, or even if the temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than the second value, a flame may be generated outside the battery pack case 200. According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, even in this case, the temperature sensor 400 can quickly recognize the generation of a flame, so that the cartridge 300 can operate to release carbon dioxide, thereby extinguishing the flame.

[0097] In addition, refer to Figures 1 to 9 , the battery pack housing 200 may include an exhaust device 240. The exhaust device 240 may be configured to exhaust gas generated from the battery module 100 to the outside of the battery pack housing 200 when an abnormal situation occurs in the battery module 100. Specifically, the exhaust gas exhausted from the battery module 100 may be exhausted to the outside of the battery pack housing 200 through the exhaust device 240.

[0098] When the gas is ejected from the battery cell 110, the electrode plate or active material sheet inside the battery cell 110 may be heated to a high temperature and discharged to the outside, and these high temperature particles may appear in the form of sparks. These sparks may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack housing 200 through the exhaust device 240, and the sparks may react with oxygen outside the battery pack housing 200 to generate flames.

[0099] At this time, the barrel 300 may be configured to release the carbon dioxide stored therein to clear the oxygen around the exhaust device 240. According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 110 or battery module 100, it is possible to prevent high-temperature gas or sparks from reacting with oxygen and generating flames outside the battery pack by removing oxygen, which is one of the elements that cause flames. In addition, according to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, even if a flame is generated, the flame can be suppressed at an early stage to prevent the flame from spreading to multiple battery modules within the battery pack housing.

[0100] The exhaust device 240 may be provided on the side frame 220 of the battery pack housing 200. Figure 2 and Figure 4 The exhaust device 240 is disposed on the right wall (in the -Y axis direction), but it may also be disposed on the wall in the +Y axis direction. The exhaust device 240 may be disposed on the side frame 220 in each row where a plurality of battery modules are disposed. According to the configuration implemented above in the present disclosure, in the event of an abnormality in the battery cell 110, high-temperature gas or sparks may be discharged in various directions of the battery pack housing 200, so that gas, etc. may be easily discharged to the outside of the battery pack housing 200.

[0101] The barrel 300 can be arranged side by side with the exhaust device 240 in the horizontal or vertical direction. Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, the barrel 300 may be arranged side by side with the exhaust device 240 in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction). According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, if oxygen reacts with high-temperature gas or sparks exhausted through the exhaust device 240 in the event of an abnormality in the battery cell 110, resulting in the generation of a flame, carbon dioxide may be released from the barrel 300 arranged side by side with the exhaust device 240, thereby quickly extinguishing the flame.

[0102] Reference Figure 2 , a plurality of cartridges 300 and a plurality of exhaust devices 240 may be provided. In addition, a plurality of units U may be provided, each of which includes one or more cartridges 300 and an exhaust device 240. Figure 2 An embodiment in which each unit U includes one exhaust device 240 and one cartridge 300 is shown, but one exhaust device 240 and a plurality of cartridges 300 may also be provided.

[0103] Each of the plurality of units U may be disposed on the side frame 220 of the battery pack case 200. In this case, the plurality of units U may be disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of the side frame 220. According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, it is easy to suppress or extinguish a flame by releasing carbon dioxide from the cartridge 300 included in the unit U corresponding to the position of the gas or spark discharged to the outside of the battery pack case 200.

[0104] In addition, if Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the battery pack housing 200 may further include a crossbeam 250. The crossbeam 250 may be configured to connect at least portions of the side frames 220 to each other. Figure 2 As shown, the crossbeam 250 may be arranged to extend in the Y-axis direction. In this case, the crossbeam 250 may separate the plurality of battery modules 100. The plurality of battery modules 100 may be arranged side by side on both sides of the crossbeam 250 within the battery pack housing 200. In this case, the plurality of units U may be symmetrically arranged on both sides of the crossbeam 250 relative to the side frame 220.

[0105] In addition, when the battery pack 10 of the present disclosure further includes a temperature sensor 400, Fig. 9 As shown, the temperature sensor 400 may be disposed between the exhaust device 240 and the barrel 300. According to the configuration of the implementation of the present disclosure, even if high-temperature gas or sparks are discharged from any exhaust device 240 and cause a flame, the temperature sensor 400 disposed in parallel with the exhaust device 240 may detect the flame temperature, and the barrel 300 disposed together with the exhaust device 240 may operate to quickly extinguish the flame.

[0106] In addition, the battery pack housing 200 may further include a partition 260. The partition 260 may be configured to separate the plurality of battery modules 100. The partition 260 may be configured to extend from the crossbeam 250. For example, Figure 2 As shown, the partition 260 may be configured to extend from the beam 250 in the X-axis direction. A plurality of partitions 260 may be provided to be spaced apart at regular intervals. According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, since a plurality of battery modules 100 are separated by the partition 260, even if an abnormality occurs in any one of the battery modules 100, heat can be prevented from being propagated to other battery modules 100.

[0107] Fig.10 is a perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0108] Reference Fig.10According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle 1 may include one or more battery packs 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle 1 according to the present disclosure may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle 1 includes a four-wheel vehicle and a two-wheel vehicle. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle 1 is operated by receiving power from the battery pack 10.

[0109] Since the battery pack 10 has the above-mentioned various effects, the vehicle 1 including it can also have these effects. Specifically, the battery pack 10 can suppress the generation of flames outside the battery pack housing 200 by removing elements that may cause flames in the event of an abnormality in the battery cell 110 or the battery module 100. In addition, it is possible to prevent subsequent chain fires by extinguishing the flames generated outside the battery pack housing 200 at an early stage in the event of an abnormality in the battery cell 110 or the battery module 100, and effectively ensure the heat propagation prevention performance in the battery pack by preventing thermal damage to other battery modules 100 to the greatest extent. Therefore, the vehicle 1 including the battery pack 10 also has the advantages of safety and reliability.

[0110] 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 various modifications and changes are possible for those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs within the technical concept of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the claims to be described below.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: A plurality of battery modules, each of which comprises a plurality of battery cells; a battery pack housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery modules; as well as A cartridge is disposed in the battery case and is configured to release carbon dioxide stored therein to the outside of the battery case.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The battery pack housing comprises: a bottom frame configured to constitute a lower surface of the battery pack case and on which the plurality of battery modules are mounted; and a side frame extending upward from the bottom frame to constitute an outer surface of the battery pack case, and Wherein, at least a portion of the barrel is coupled to the side frame.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, Each of the plurality of battery modules includes a thermistor configured to measure a temperature of a gas generated in the battery module, and Wherein, if the temperature of the gas measured by the thermistor is equal to or greater than a first value and if a temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than a second value, carbon dioxide stored inside the cartridge is released to the outside of the battery pack case.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, in, If the first value is 200° C. and the second value is 1° C. / second, carbon dioxide is released from the cartridge.

5. The battery pack according to claim 3, in, The barrel comprises: A cartridge unit includes a storage portion having a space for storing carbon dioxide therein and a release portion extending from the storage portion and configured to release carbon dioxide.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The diameter of the release portion is smaller than the diameter of the storage portion.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The barrel also includes: An operation unit is connected to the barrel unit and is configured to cause the barrel unit to release carbon dioxide if the temperature measured by the thermistor is equal to or greater than the first value and the temperature increase rate is equal to or greater than the second value.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, in, The operation unit is disposed in a space between the side frame and the plurality of battery modules.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8, in, The battery pack case has a space in which the operation unit is disposed.

10. The battery pack according to claim 3, The battery pack further includes a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a flame generated outside the battery pack housing, and in, If the temperature of the flame measured by the temperature sensor is a third value, the carbon dioxide stored inside the cartridge is released to the outside of the pack case.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, in, The temperature sensor is disposed on the side frame and is configured to measure a temperature of the flame.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, in, If the third value is 800° C. to 1000° C., carbon dioxide is released from the cartridge.

13. The battery pack according to claim 10, in, The battery pack housing comprises: an exhaust device provided on the side frame and configured to exhaust gas generated in the battery module to the outside of the battery pack housing, and Wherein the cartridge is configured to release carbon dioxide stored therein to clear oxygen surrounding the exhaust device.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, in, The barrel and the exhaust device are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14, in, Set up multiple barrels and multiple exhaust devices, Wherein, a plurality of units are provided, each unit comprising one or more barrels and an exhaust device, and Wherein, the plurality of units are arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the side frame.

16. The battery pack according to claim 15, in, The battery pack housing further comprises: a cross beam configured to connect at least portions of the side frames to each other and to separate the plurality of battery modules, and Wherein, the multiple units are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the beam.

17. The battery pack according to claim 16, in, The battery pack housing further includes a partition extending from the cross beam and configured to separate the plurality of battery modules.

18. A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

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