Battery pack and energy storage system including same

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack capable of reducing material costs and having a simple structure and increased energy density. A battery pack according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of columns; a plurality of steel bars connecting mutually facing ones of the columns and assembled into a plurality of levels in a height direction of the columns; the plurality of trays are arranged on the steel rod and form each layer; and a plurality of single module assemblies, which are disposed on the trays of the respective levels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and an energy storage system including the battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack having a battery module with high density arrangement to improve space utilization and an energy storage system including the battery pack. This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0086642 filed in Korea on July 4, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0002] Secondary batteries are often used not only in portable devices, but also in electric vehicles (EV) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) powered by electric power sources due to their easy adaptability to different types of products and electrical properties such as high energy density. Secondary batteries significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels, and in addition to their main advantage, they do not produce byproducts from energy use. From this perspective, secondary batteries are viewed as a more environmentally friendly and energy-saving new energy source.

[0003] Common types of secondary batteries include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, nickel zinc batteries, etc., and a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to form a battery module, and a plurality of battery modules form a battery pack.

[0004] Recently, attention has been paid to an energy storage system (ESS) that stores the generated electricity in battery cells and supplies it to consumers when electricity is needed, thereby maximizing energy use efficiency. ESS is a system including tens to hundreds of battery racks, each of which includes a plurality of battery modules. In addition, ESS is used in combination with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that stably supplies power in the event of a sudden power outage or failure, and a solar power generation system that converts solar energy into electrical energy.

[0005] The battery rack generally includes a metal rack case to protect the plurality of battery modules from external impact or to receive and store them. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery module. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a conventional rack housing, and Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Magnified view of segment A in FIG.

[0006] refer to Figure 1 , the battery module 10 may include a module case 20 and a plurality of battery cells (not shown) disposed in the module case 20 and stacked in one direction.

[0007] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the housing 30 may be configured to accommodate Figure 1A plurality of battery modules 10 are shown arranged in the top-bottom direction. Inside the rack housing 30, the plurality of battery modules 10 may be installed to be spaced apart from each other in the top-bottom direction. The rack housing 30 may have an accommodation space having an open structure to allow the plurality of battery modules 10 to enter and exit in the top-bottom direction.

[0008] For example, Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown in detail, the rack housing 30 may form an accommodation space by the frame 40. In addition, the support bracket 50 is coupled to the frame 40, and when the plurality of battery modules 10 are installed in the rack housing 30, the battery module 10 is supported by the support bracket 50 of the rack housing 30 and installed for each compartment. The battery module 10 received in each compartment requires the module housing 20, and the rack housing 30 requires the frame 40 and the support bracket 50. In addition, the rack housing 30 requires a space between the upper / lower support brackets 50.

[0009] As described above, the conventional battery rack requires many components, thereby increasing the material cost, the assembly process of installing the battery module 10 into each compartment of the rack housing 30 is cumbersome, the rack housing 30 is complex in structure, and the energy density is reduced as much as the space occupied by other components except the battery cells in each compartment of the rack housing 30.

[0010] Therefore, a new high-density arrangement structure of the battery module 10 is needed to avoid an increase in material cost, simplify the assembly process, improve space utilization, and increase energy density. Summary of the invention

[0011] Technical issues

[0012] The present disclosure is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and thus the present disclosure is intended to provide a battery pack having reduced material cost, simplified structure, and increased energy density.

[0013] The present disclosure also aims to provide an energy storage system including a battery pack having a simplified assembly process and increased energy density.

[0014] The technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand these and other problems through the following description.

[0015] Technical Solution

[0016] In order to solve the above problems, a battery pack according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of columns; a plurality of steel rods, the plurality of steel rods connecting the columns facing each other among the plurality of columns and assembled into a plurality of layers along the height direction of the columns; a plurality of trays, the plurality of trays being located on the steel rods to form each layer; and a plurality of single cell module assemblies, the plurality of single cell module assemblies being located on the trays of each layer.

[0017] Here, the plurality of cell module assemblies located on the tray at each layer may be connected to form one battery module, and the battery pack may further include an electrical connection member connecting the battery modules at each layer.

[0018] In this case, the battery module is not covered with a module case, and the battery pack may further include a pack case to protect the internal structure.

[0019] The battery case may include a box-shaped container having an open top side.

[0020] Preferably, the tray is supported horizontally by steel rods.

[0021] The battery pack may further include a substrate forming a bottom, and the plurality of pillars may be assembled to the substrate.

[0022] The columns may be assembled to at least four corners of the base plate, and the steel rods may connect the columns facing each other in a width direction of the battery pack and arranged along a length direction of the battery pack.

[0023] The column may have holes at predetermined intervals along a height direction of the column, and the steel rod may be inserted into the holes and assembled between the columns facing each other.

[0024] The tray may include an upper surface and side walls extending downwardly from the upper surface, and the side walls may have concave grooves that fit downwardly to the steel rods.

[0025] The columns may be included in n rows and m columns along the width and length directions of the battery pack, steel rods may be assembled between the columns in the same column, and a rod-type top frame of a rectangular cross-section may be fastened to the top of the columns parallel to the steel rods.

[0026] The columns may have a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to the height direction, and the steel rods may have a circular cross-section.

[0027] Preferably, the battery pack further includes a heat sink between the tray and the cell module assembly for each layer.

[0028] The battery pack may further include a cooling pipe assembly to supply a cooling medium to each radiator and collect the cooling medium from each radiator.

[0029] The cooling pipe assembly may be located at a front end of the battery pack in a length direction.

[0030] The cooling pipe assembly may include a cooling medium inlet port for supplying a cooling medium from outside the battery pack, a cooling medium supply pipe connected to the cooling medium inlet port, an inlet-side connector connecting the cooling medium supply pipe to each radiator, a cooling medium outlet port for discharging the cooling medium to outside the battery pack, a cooling medium exhaust pipe connected to the cooling medium outlet port, and an outlet-side connector connecting the cooling medium exhaust pipe to each radiator.

[0031] The cooling medium inlet port and the cooling medium outlet port may be located at a top center of a front end of the battery pack in a length direction, and the battery pack may further include a battery management system (BMS) between the cooling medium supply pipe and the cooling medium exhaust pipe.

[0032] The tray and the heat sink may extend further to a front end of the battery pack in the length direction than the cell module assembly, and the inlet-side connector and the outlet-side connector may be located at an extended portion of the heat sink.

[0033] The cell module assembly may be connected with the electrical connection member.

[0034] The battery pack may further include a top cover covering the uppermost cell module assembly on the top frame.

[0035] For example, at the rear end of the battery pack in the length direction, the first electrical connection member extending from the lowermost single-cell module assembly can be connected to the first terminal portion of the top cover, and at the front end of the battery pack in the length direction, the second electrical connection member extending from the uppermost single-cell module assembly can extend to below the top cover and be connected to the second terminal portion of the top cover.

[0036] A battery pack according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes battery modules in multiple layers, wherein trays supported by steel bars are stacked in multiple layers in a vertical direction, and a plurality of cell module assemblies on the trays of each layer are connected to each other to form the battery modules.

[0037] Here, the number of layers of the battery module may be 4 to 6.

[0038] Furthermore, the present disclosure provides an energy storage system including at least one battery pack according to the present disclosure.

[0039] Beneficial effects

[0040] According to the present disclosure, since the battery modules are assembled into one battery pack and the case is only provided in each battery pack, the structure of the battery pack is simplified, the energy density is increased, and the material cost is reduced.

[0041] According to the present disclosure, trays and steel bars are arranged in multiple layers inside a battery pack, a single module assembly of each layer forms a battery module, and four to six battery modules form a battery pack. The battery pack has high-density arranged battery modules, thereby improving space utilization.

[0042] According to the present disclosure, it is easy to manufacture a battery pack that includes a desired number of layers of battery modules and freely expands the battery capacity. The horizontal and vertical areas or footprints of the battery pack can be standardized, and can be freely expanded in the height direction by increasing the number of layers of the battery module.

[0043] According to the present disclosure, battery modules can be densely arranged in multiple layers inside a battery pack, so it is easy to design an energy storage system by arranging and stacking battery packs. Compared with the high-density design of conventional battery racks, the assembly process can be minimized.

[0044] According to the present disclosure, the internal structure of the battery pack can be stably supported by the column, the tray and the battery pack housing. Therefore, the movement of the internal structure such as the single module assembly in the battery pack can be minimized, thereby reducing the impact on transportation (vibration). As described above, the battery pack of the present disclosure is simple and easy to transport and simple and easy to assemble at the installation site, and compared with the transportable rack system that requires a device for preventing deformation and damage of components due to vibration during transportation, the energy storage system can be realized in a more direct and convenient manner at a lower cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the following detailed description, serve to provide a better understanding of technical aspects of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery pack.

[0047] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a conventional rack housing.

[0048] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Magnified view of segment A in FIG.

[0049] Figure 4 is a front perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 5 is shown with Figure 4 A perspective view of a battery pack with the battery pack housing separated.

[0051] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a main internal structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Exploded perspective view of.

[0053] Figures 8 to 14 is a diagram illustrating a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] Fig.15 is connected to Figure 6 Another exploded perspective view of the internal structure.

[0055] Fig.16 yes Fig.15 Exploded bottom perspective view of the top cover in FIG.

[0056] Fig.17 yes Figure 6 Magnified front view.

[0057] Fig.18 yes Figure 6 A magnified rear view.

[0058] Fig.19 is a diagram showing an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] Below, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before describing, it should be understood that the terms or words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be interpreted as limited to the general and dictionary meanings, but on the basis of 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. Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the illustrations in the accompanying drawings are provided by way of illustration, but are not intended to be limiting, and it should be understood that various other equivalents and modifications may already exist when the present application is filed.

[0060] Figure 4 is a front perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 5 is shown with Figure 4 A perspective view of a battery pack with the battery pack housing separated.

[0061] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 The battery pack 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a battery pack case 300 to protect the internal structure 200. The battery pack 100 may further include a top cover 400.

[0062] The battery case 300 may include a box-shaped container with an open top side. The battery case 300 may cover the front, rear, left, right, and bottom sides of the internal structure 200, and the top cover 400 may cover the upper surface of the internal structure 200.

[0063] The battery pack housing 300 may be made of a material having a predetermined level of rigidity or higher to protect the internal structure 200. Preferably, the battery pack housing 300 may be made of a metal material having a high thermal conductivity to facilitate heat release. For example, the battery pack housing 300 may be made of aluminum or steel. In addition, in order to achieve electrical insulation, the battery pack housing 300 may also include an insulating coating on the inner surface.

[0064] The battery pack housing 300 may also include components for connecting to other structures. For example, as shown in the figure, the battery pack housing 300 may have a bracket 310 having a fastening hole at the front side. This component can be used to connect multiple battery packs 100, and can be used to connect the equipment or equipment in which the battery pack 100 is to be installed, such as the chassis of a vehicle or the frame of an energy storage system. The shape of the component can be modified and the component can be omitted.

[0065] The battery pack 100 has predetermined dimensions in the width direction (X-axis direction, left-right direction), the length direction (Y-axis direction, front-back direction), and the height direction (Z-axis direction, top-bottom direction), and has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped structure in shape. The battery pack 100 may have a shape for preventing unnecessary space occupation when a plurality of battery packs 100 are densely arranged. In addition, the battery pack housing 300 is easy to manufacture due to its simple structure.

[0066] at the same time, Figure 4 The cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium outlet port 174 outside the battery pack case 300 are shown. The cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium outlet port 174 need to be connected to the outside to supply the cooling medium from the outside of the battery pack 100 to the inside of the battery pack 100 and discharge the cooling medium to the outside of the battery pack 100, and for this reason, the cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium outlet port 174 are exposed to the outside of the battery pack case 300. The cooling pipe assembly 170 is connected to the cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium outlet port 174. The cooling related component structure is Figures 15 to 17 is shown in and will refer to Figures 15 to 17 Describe in more detail.

[0067] In addition, if Figure 5As shown, the battery pack 100 may further include a battery management system (BMS) 180 and a fuse assembly 210. The cooling pipe assembly 170, the BMS 180, and the fuse assembly 210 may be placed together at the front end of the battery pack 100 without unnecessarily occupying an area in the internal space of the battery pack 100 to prevent the energy density of the battery pack 100 from decreasing. Because the cooling pipe assembly 170, the BMS 180, and the fuse assembly 210 are placed together at the front end of the battery pack 100, the internal space of the battery pack housing 300 may be mainly allocated to the single module assembly. Therefore, the energy density of the battery pack 100 may be increased.

[0068] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of a main internal structure of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Exploded perspective view of.

[0069] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 Describing the internal structure 200 of the battery pack 100, the battery pack 100 includes a plurality of columns 110 and a plurality of steel rods 120. The steel rods 120 are connected between the columns 110 facing each other among the plurality of columns 110. In addition, the steel rods 120 are assembled in a plurality of layers along the height direction of the columns 110.

[0070] The tray 130 is located on the steel rod 120 of one layer. The tray 130 includes a plurality of trays to form each layer. Preferably, the tray 130 is horizontally supported by the steel rod 120.

[0071] A plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are located on the tray 130 at each layer. The column 110 and the steel rod 120 may function as a main frame for positioning the cell module assemblies 140. The column 110, the steel rod 120, and the tray 130 may be designed not to occupy a larger volume than the cell module assemblies 140, so as to increase the energy density of the battery pack 100.

[0072] The cell module assembly 140 is an assembly of battery cells. A plurality of battery cells may be arranged in one direction within the cell module assembly 140. The battery cells constituting the cell module assembly 140 may include, for example, pouch-type battery cells. The pouch-type battery cells have a suitable shape for maximizing energy density when stacking them. However, the battery cells applied to the present disclosure are not limited to a specific shape, and may include battery cells of any shape, such as prismatic cells or cylindrical cells, as long as they correspond to rechargeable secondary batteries.

[0073] In addition, a plurality of battery cells constituting the cell module assembly 140 may be stacked side by side. When a pouch-type battery cell is applied, the battery cells in an upright position such that the direction in which the electrode leads are led out faces the Y-axis direction may be arranged along the X-axis direction to form the cell module assembly 140. For example, the cell module assembly 140 may include five or more battery cells. The plurality of battery cells may be electrically connected in series or in parallel or in both series and parallel, and an electrical connection may be established by connecting the electrode leads of the battery cells by bus bars.

[0074] The single module assemblies 140 may be arranged in rows and columns on the pallet 130. In the example shown, the single module assemblies 140 having a length direction in the Y-axis direction are arranged in 5 rows in the X-axis direction, and the arrangement in one column is repeated in the Y-axis direction, so they are arranged in 5 rows and 2 columns. Depending on the number of arranged single module assemblies 140, the size of the pallet 130, the number and placement of the columns 110, and the number of steel rods 120 may be changed to support an appropriate load.

[0075] Here, a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 located on the tray 130 of each layer may be connected to form one battery module 150. That is, the cell module assemblies 140 horizontally placed on one layer may be modularized into one unit. In addition, the battery modules 150 of each layer may be connected to each other to form one battery pack. That is, the connection between all the cell module assemblies 140 included in the battery pack 100 may be established by connecting from the battery module 150 of the lowest layer to the battery module 150 of the uppermost layer. The connection between the cell module assemblies 140 and the connection between the battery modules 150 may be achieved by appropriate electrical connection members such as cables or bus bars.

[0076] The battery pack 100 of the present disclosure includes a tray 130 supported by a steel rod 120 and arranged in a plurality of layers in a vertical direction, a plurality of single module assemblies 140 located on the tray 130 of each layer are connected to form a battery module 150, and the battery module 150 is included in a plurality of layers inside the battery pack 100. Here, for example, the number of layers of the battery module 150 may be 4 to 6 layers, and as shown in the figure, the number of layers of the battery module 150 is 5 layers.

[0077] As described above, the battery pack 100 includes a battery pack case 300 that accommodates the battery modules 150 arranged in the top-bottom direction. In this case, contrary to the conventional art, the battery modules 150 are not covered by the module case and are only covered by the battery pack case 300, as shown in FIG. Figure 4 As described above, the present disclosure includes battery modules 150 combined into one battery pack, omits the module case, and finally includes a case covering only the entire structure in the battery pack, thereby simplifying the structure of the battery pack 100, increasing energy density, and reducing material costs.

[0078] According to the present disclosure, the tray 130 and the steel rod 120 may be arranged in a plurality of layers inside the battery pack 100, the single module assembly 140 of each layer forms one battery module 150, and four to six battery modules 150 may form the battery pack 100. The battery pack 100 has the battery modules 150 arranged at a high density without a module case, thereby improving space utilization.

[0079] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 Describing the internal structure 200 of the battery pack 100 in more detail, the battery pack 100 may include a base plate 105 forming the bottom of the internal structure 200. A plurality of columns 110 may be assembled to the base plate 105. The base plate 105 may be a base for making the columns 110 stand upright in a vertical direction and stacking a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 of a lowermost layer.

[0080] The pillars 110 are assembled to at least four corners of the base plate 105. The steel rods 120 may connect the pillars 110 facing each other in the width direction of the battery pack 100, and may be arranged along the length direction of the battery pack 100.

[0081] The number and assembly position of the columns 110 may vary depending on the size of the base plate 105 or the placement and number of the single module assemblies 140 to be mounted on the base plate 105. For example, the columns 110 may be included in n rows and m columns along the width direction and the length direction of the battery pack 100, and the steel rods 120 may be assembled between the columns 110 in the same column. In the example shown, the columns 110 are included in three columns, and three steel rods 120 on a horizontal plane are necessary.

[0082] A rod-type top frame 165 of a rectangular cross section may be fastened to the top of the column 110 in parallel with the steel rod 120. The top frame 165 may be coupled to the top of the column 110 on the uppermost single module assembly 140 by bolt connection, and the stacking structure of the single module assembly 140 may be coupled such that the left and right surfaces are in contact with the column 110, and the upper surface is in contact with the top frame 165. By this configuration, the stacking structure of the single module assembly 140 may be securely held without moving.

[0083] The column 110 may have holes 115 arranged at predetermined intervals along a height direction of the column 110 , and the steel rod 120 may be inserted into the holes 115 and assembled between the columns 110 facing each other.

[0084] In the illustrated example, four holes 115 may be arranged at predetermined intervals. When the steel rod 120 is inserted into each hole 115, the total number of layers of the steel rods 120 may be four.

[0085] The steel rod 120 can have a length greater than the distance between the columns 110 facing each other, and the two ends of the steel rod 120 extending through the hole 115 can have an extension surface parallel to the outer surface of the column 110, or extend farther in the X-axis direction than the outer surface of the column 110, and thus the steel rod 120 can be reliably and stably supported between the columns 110.

[0086] The tray 130 may include an upper surface 132 and a side wall 134 extending downward from the upper surface 132, and the side wall 134 may have a concave groove 136 that fits downward to the steel rod 120. Due to the inclusion of the upper surface 132 and the side wall 134, the weight may be reduced compared to a hexagonal plate as a whole, and forming the concave groove 136 in a thin side wall 134 instead of forming a long concave groove in a shape to be fastened to the steel rod 120 may have a beneficial effect in terms of production and material cost savings.

[0087] The column 110 may have a rectangular cross-section perpendicular to the height direction. The column 110 may not occupy a large area in the inner space of the pack case 300 , and may have a large contact area with the cell module assembly 140 .

[0088] The steel rod 120 may have a circular cross section. The hole 115 and the concave groove 136 may conform to the shape of the steel rod 120. When the steel rod 120 has a circular cross section, no special alignment process is required when inserting the steel rod 120 into the hole 115, and by allowing the steel rod 120 to pass through the holes 115 facing each other, it can be easily fastened, thereby improving assembly efficiency. In addition, because a portion of the steel rod 120 supporting the tray 130 is circular, when the heavy single module assembly 140 is placed on the tray 130, the load is not concentrated on a narrow area, thereby maintaining structural strength.

[0089] A plurality of trays 130 form each layer. In the example shown, the number of layers of the trays 130 is 4. The base plate 105 at the bottom also forms a layer. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of layers in which the single module assembly 140 can be located is 5.

[0090] A plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are located in each layer. The cell module assemblies 140 may be included in o rows and p columns in one layer along the width direction and the length direction of the battery pack 100. In the example shown, the cell module assemblies 140 are arranged in 5 rows and 2 columns, i.e., a total of 10 cell module assemblies 140 in one layer, and the total number of layers is 5, so the total number of cell module assemblies 140 in the battery pack 100 is equal to 50. Since the cell module assemblies 140 of each layer form one battery module 150, the number of layers of the battery module 150 is 5 in the example shown.

[0091] According to the present disclosure, it is easy to manufacture a battery pack 100 including a desired number of layers of battery modules 150, and the battery capacity can be freely expanded. The horizontal and vertical areas or footprints of the battery pack 100 can be standardized. The size and capacity of the battery pack 100 in the height direction can be freely expanded by increasing the number of layers of the battery module 150.

[0092] The column 110 can adjust the forward and backward movement and left and right movement of a battery module 150, which includes a layer of monomer module assemblies 140 connected to each other. The tray 130 supported by the steel rod 120 can adjust the upward and downward movement of the battery module 150. Therefore, in the event that the battery pack 100 moves, the column 110 and the tray 130 can prevent the movement of the battery module 150 in the battery pack housing 300. Because the battery module 150 is very heavy, even a small movement can have a great impact on the surrounding components. According to the present disclosure, the movement of the battery module 150 can be prevented, thereby improving the performance of the battery pack 100 and ensuring the safety and long-term use of the battery pack 100.

[0093] Preferably, the battery pack 100 further includes a heat sink 160 between the tray 130 and the cell module assembly 140 for each layer. Here, the heat sink 160 refers to an object that absorbs heat from another object and emits heat through direct / indirect thermal contact. A heat sink 160 may be provided for each battery module 150. The heat sink 160 may be configured to cool the battery module 150 by thermally contacting the battery module 150. To this end, the heat sink 160 may be made of a metal having high thermal conductivity and heat resistance. For example, the heat sink 160 may be made of an aluminum alloy having light weight and high thermal conductivity.

[0094] The radiator 160 can release heat to the ambient air (air) or to a cooling medium passing through the radiator 160. For example, the cooling medium can be water or oil. This embodiment also includes a cooling tube assembly 170 connected to the radiator 160 to utilize the cooling medium. To allow the cooling medium to circulate, the radiator 160 can have an inlet port 163 and an outlet port 166 for connecting to the cooling tube assembly 170, and the radiator 160 can have a flow channel inside. As described below with reference to Fig.15 As described in more detail, the cooling tube assembly 170 may include an inlet-side connector 173 for connecting to the inlet port 163 and an outlet-side connector 176 for connecting to the outlet port 166, such as Figure 6 shown.

[0095] In the battery pack 100, the battery modules 150 can be installed to be spaced apart from each other in the top-bottom direction by the thickness of the tray 130 and the heat sink 160. The tray 130 and the heat sink 160 can be designed to have a minimum thickness. Thus, a plurality of battery modules 150 can be installed in a high-density arrangement without occupying unnecessary space in the top-bottom direction inside the battery pack 100.

[0096] Here, the column 110 and the tray 130 may be included in a movement path of heat during dissipation of heat generated from the battery module 150 , and may be made of a material having high thermal conductivity to improve heat transfer efficiency.

[0097] Figures 8 to 14 is a diagram showing a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figures 8 to 14 With the description above, the method for manufacturing the battery pack 100 and the detailed configuration of the battery pack 100 will be more clearly understood.

[0098] refer to Figure 8 , the column 110 is assembled to the base plate 105 (step S1). The assembly between the base plate 105 and the column 110 can be completed by various methods, such as interference fit, bolt connection, adhesion or welding.

[0099] As described above, the column 110 has a rectangular cross section and is preferably placed with the long axis in the cross section facing the battery cell assembly 140 to increase the contact area with the battery cell assembly 140. In addition, this embodiment adopts the following example of the battery cell assembly 140, which includes the columns 110 arranged in rows and columns (for example, three columns). The number of columns 110 in the middle column can be greater than the number of columns 110 in the other columns to provide stronger support.

[0100] Then, if Fig. 9 As shown, the first heat sink 160 is located on the substrate 105 (step S2). The heat sink 160 can be assembled after it has been moved down from the top of the column 110, and in the example shown, the heat sink 160 is formed with a structure that allows the middle column 110 to pass through. The heat sink 160 can be placed at two locations in one layer, avoiding the middle column 110.

[0101] Then, refer to Fig.10 , a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are placed on the heat sink 160 (step S3 ). In this step, the cell module assemblies 140 may be electrically connected to form the battery module 150 .

[0102] Fig.11 yes Fig.10140 is a top view of an assembled state to schematically illustrate the electrical connection relationship. The single-cell module assemblies 140 placed on one layer can be connected by an appropriate electrical connection device. The current flow direction between the single-cell module assemblies 140 can be, for example, as shown by the arrows. One side 144 of the single-cell module assembly 140 can be connected to the single-cell module assembly of the upper layer, and one side 146 of another single-cell module assembly 140 can be connected to the terminal portion for connection to an external terminal.

[0103] Then, refer to Fig.12 , the steel rod 120 is assembled to the column 110 , and the tray 130 is positioned on the column 110 to support the tray 130 (step S4 ).

[0104] Fig.13 and Fig.14 An enlarged view of the assembly relationship between the steel rod and the pallet.

[0105] As described above, the tray 130 includes the upper surface 132, the side wall 134, and the concave groove 136. The tray 130 can be moved from the top to the bottom of the steel rod 120 and assembled so that the steel rod 120 is inserted into the concave groove 136.

[0106] Then, with reference Fig. 9 In the same manner as step S2 described above, the heat sink 160 is placed on the tray 130. Fig.10 In the same manner as described in step S3, a plurality of monomer module assemblies 140 are placed thereon. Also in this step, the monomer module assemblies 140 may be electrically connected. One side 144 of the monomer module assembly 140 of the lower layer and one side of the monomer module assembly 140 newly placed on the tray 130 may be connected to connect the battery module 150 of the lower layer and the battery module 150 of the second layer. One side of another monomer module assembly 140 of the second layer may be connected to the monomer module assembly of the upper layer.

[0107] Subsequently, steps S4, S2 and S3 are repeated in this order a required number of times.

[0108] Subsequently, when assembly of other structures such as cooling-related components or the BMS 180 is completed and the pack case 300 is assembled, manufacturing of the battery pack 100 may be completed.

[0109] Fig.15 is connected to Figure 6 another exploded perspective view of the internal structure of Fig.16 yes Fig.15 Exploded bottom perspective view of the top cover in FIG. Fig.17 yes Figure 6 A magnified front view of Fig.18 yes Figure 6 A magnified rear view.

[0110] refer to Figures 15 to 18 The battery pack 100 may further include a cooling pipe assembly 170 to supply a cooling medium to each radiator 160 and collect the cooling medium from each radiator 160 .

[0111] As described above, the cooling pipe assembly 170 may be located at the front end of the battery pack 100 to increase space utilization.

[0112] The cooling pipe assembly 170 may include a cooling medium inlet port 171 for supplying a cooling medium from the outside of the battery pack 100, a cooling medium supply pipe 172 connected to the cooling medium inlet port 171, and an inlet-side connector 173 for connecting the cooling medium supply pipe 172 to the inlet port 163 of each radiator 160. In addition, the cooling pipe assembly 170 may include a cooling medium outlet port 174 for discharging the cooling medium to the outside of the battery pack 100, a cooling medium exhaust pipe 175 connected to the cooling medium outlet port 174, and an outlet-side connector 176 for connecting the cooling medium exhaust pipe 175 to the outlet port 166 of each radiator 160.

[0113] The cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium outlet port 174 may be located at the top center of the front end of the battery pack 100 in the length direction. Figure 4 As shown, the cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium outlet port 174 may be exposed to the outside of the battery pack housing 300. The cooling medium inlet port 171 and the cooling medium supply pipe 172 are used to supply the cooling medium to the radiator 160 at the substantially central portion of the battery pack 100. The cooling medium supply pipe 172 may be branched into two from one cooling medium inlet port 171 and connected to each radiator 160. Generally, heat accumulates at the central portion of the battery pack 100, which may be heated to a high temperature, so the low-temperature cooling medium is preferably concentrated on the central portion of the battery pack 100 to achieve cooling. The cooling medium from each radiator 160 may be supplied to the cooling medium exhaust pipe 175 from the outlet port 166 at both sides of the radiator 160 through the outlet side connector 176, and the cooling medium exhaust pipe 175 at both sides may be connected together to one cooling medium outlet port 174 to smoothly discharge the cooling medium to the outside of the battery pack 100.

[0114] Inside the battery pack housing 300, a BMS 180 may be further included between the cooling medium supply pipe 172 and the cooling medium exhaust pipe 175. The BMS 180 may be configured to measure the current and temperature of the battery cells in the battery pack 100 and control the charge / discharge of the battery cells. The BMS 180 may be placed between the cooling medium supply pipe 172 and the cooling medium exhaust pipe 175, thereby maximizing space utilization in the battery pack 100.

[0115] The tray 130 and the radiator 160 may extend further to the front end of the battery pack 100 than the cell module assembly 140, and the inlet port 163 and the outlet port 166 may be located at the extended portion of the radiator 160. The cooling pipe assembly 170 may be assembled to the inlet port 163 and the outlet port 166 at this position, thereby forming a compact structure without occupying a large space inside the battery pack 100. In addition, the BMS 180 may be placed in the empty space between the cooling medium supply pipe 172 and the cooling medium exhaust pipe 175, thereby improving the energy density of the battery pack 100. Other electrical components such as the fuse assembly 210 may be placed at the front end of the battery pack 100 adjacent to the BMS 180.

[0116] In addition, the cell module assembly 140 may be connected with electrical connection members 190, 195. The electrical connection members 190, 195 may be cables or flexible bus bars.

[0117] For example, at the rear end of the battery pack 100, the first electrical connection member 190 extending from the lowermost cell module assembly 140 can be connected to the first terminal portion 410 of the top cover 400, and at the front end in the length direction of the battery pack 100, the second electrical connection member 195 extending from the uppermost cell module assembly 140 can extend below the top cover 400 and be connected to the second terminal portion 415 of the top cover 400.

[0118] In addition, the fuse assembly 210 may be connected to the second electrical connection member 195, for example. The fuse assembly 210 is a component including a relay and a resistor, and may play the role of stably supplying battery power to a device or equipment using the battery pack 100, or cutting off the battery power or protecting the power grid of the corresponding device or equipment when a fault current occurs. According to the present disclosure, the fuse assembly 210 may be efficiently placed in the available space at the front end of the battery pack 100, thereby achieving space saving.

[0119] Fig.19 is a diagram showing an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0120] refer to Fig.19 , the energy storage system 500 may include at least one battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0121] The battery pack 100 may include at least one battery pack or more than one battery pack. Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described based on a plurality of battery packs 100.

[0122] When the energy storage system 500 includes a plurality of battery packs 100, the energy storage system 500 may further include a frame 510. Figure 4 The depicted bracket 310 may be used to connect the battery pack 100 to the frame 510 .

[0123] The frame 510 may be configured to accommodate the plurality of battery packs 100 , and have an accommodation space for accommodating the plurality of battery packs 100 .

[0124] The plurality of battery packs 100 may be electrically connected to each other through a rack bus bar (not shown). The energy storage system 500 according to the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms, for example, a smart grid system or a charging station.

[0125] According to the present disclosure, the battery modules 150 have been densely arranged in multiple layers inside the battery pack 100. Therefore, the energy storage system 500 can be easily designed by arranging or stacking the battery packs 100. Compared with the high-density design of the conventional battery rack, the assembly process can be minimized.

[0126] The energy storage system 500 according to the present disclosure may be completed, then shipped, transported, and installed at an installation site after the battery pack 100 is assembled in the frame 510. The frame 510 and the battery pack 100 may be transported and assembled at an installation site.

[0127] The trend of ESS moves toward minimizing field missions. Therefore, it is necessary to install the battery pack in the rack housing before shipment. However, a transportable rack system is required to prevent deformation and damage of components due to vibration during transportation.

[0128] According to the present disclosure, the internal structure of the battery pack 100 can be stably supported by the column 110, the tray 130 and the battery pack housing 300. Therefore, the movement of the internal structure such as the single module assembly 140 in the battery pack 100 can be minimized, and the influence on transportation (vibration) can be reduced. When the energy storage system 500 is installed at the installation site after the transportation of the battery pack 100, the installation operation can be quickly performed in an easy and simple manner. Since the battery modules 150 are densely arranged in the battery pack 100, the energy storage system 700 can be efficiently constructed in a short time. As described above, because the battery pack 100 of the present disclosure is simple and easy to transport and simple and easy to assemble at the installation site, the energy storage system 500 can be implemented in a direct and convenient manner at low cost without converting to a transportable rack system.

[0129] Terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used for convenience of description, but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the terms may change according to the positions of the elements or observers.

[0130] Although the present disclosure has been described above with respect to a limited number of embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that those skilled in the art may make various changes and modifications within the technical aspects of the present disclosure and the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0131] [reference numerals list]

[0132] 100: Battery pack 105: Substrate

[0133] 110: Column 115: Hole

[0134] 120: Steel rod 130: Pallet

[0135] 136: Concave groove 140: Monoblock module assembly

[0136] 150: Battery module 160: Radiator

[0137] 165: Top frame 170: Cooling pipe assembly

[0138] 171: Cooling medium inlet port 172: Cooling medium supply pipe

[0139] 173: Inlet side connector 174: Cooling medium outlet port

[0140] 175: Cooling medium discharge pipe 176: Outlet side connector

[0141] 180: BMS 190, 195: Electrical connection components

[0142] 200: Internal structure 300: Battery pack housing

[0143] 310: Bracket 400: Top cover

[0144] 410: first terminal 415: second terminal

[0145] 500: Energy storage system 510: Framework

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: Multiple columns; a plurality of steel rods connecting the plurality of columns facing each other and assembled into a plurality of layers along a height direction of the columns; a plurality of pallets, the plurality of pallets being positioned on the steel rods to form each layer; as well as A plurality of single module assemblies are disposed on the tray of each layer.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of cell module assemblies located on the tray at each layer are connected to form one battery module, and the battery pack further includes an electrical connection member connecting the battery modules at each layer.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein: The battery module is not covered with a module case, and the battery pack further includes a pack case protecting an internal structure.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein: The battery pack case includes a box-shaped container having an open top side.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The tray is horizontally supported by the steel rods.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The battery pack further includes a substrate forming a bottom, and Wherein, the plurality of pillars are assembled to the substrate.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein: The columns are assembled to at least four corners of the base plate, and the steel rods connect the columns facing each other in a width direction of the battery pack and are arranged along a length direction of the battery pack.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein: The columns have holes at predetermined intervals in a height direction of the columns, and the steel rods are inserted into the holes and assembled between the columns facing each other.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The tray includes an upper surface and a side wall extending downwardly from the upper surface, and the side wall has a concave groove that fits downwardly to the steel rod.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The columns are included in n rows and m columns along the width and length directions of the battery pack, the steel rods are assembled between the columns in the same column, and a rod-type top frame with a rectangular cross-section is fastened to the top of the column in parallel with the steel rods.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The column has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the height direction, and the steel rod has a circular cross section.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: A heat sink is located between the tray and the single module assembly at each layer.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, wherein: The battery pack further includes a cooling pipe assembly for supplying a cooling medium to each radiator and collecting the cooling medium from each radiator.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, wherein: The cooling pipe assembly is located at a front end of the battery pack in a length direction.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14, wherein: The cooling pipe assembly includes: a cooling medium inlet port, which is used to supply the cooling medium from the outside of the battery pack; a cooling medium supply pipe, which is connected to the cooling medium inlet port; an inlet side connector, which connects the cooling medium supply pipe to each radiator; a cooling medium outlet port, which is used to discharge the cooling medium to the outside of the battery pack; a cooling medium exhaust pipe, which is connected to the cooling medium outlet port; and an outlet side connector, which connects the cooling medium exhaust pipe to each radiator.

16. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein: The cooling medium inlet port and the cooling medium outlet port are located at a top center of the front end of the battery pack in the length direction, and the battery pack further includes a battery management system (BMS) between the cooling medium supply pipe and the cooling medium exhaust pipe.

17. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein: The tray and the heat sink extend further to the front end of the battery pack in the length direction than the cell module assembly, and the inlet-side connector and the outlet-side connector are located at an extended portion of the heat sink.

18. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein: The single module assembly is connected to an electrical connection member.

19. The battery pack according to claim 10, wherein: The battery pack further includes a top cover covering the uppermost layer of the cell module assembly on the top frame.

20. The battery pack according to claim 19, wherein: At the rear end of the battery pack in the length direction, a first electrical connection member extending from the lowermost cell module assembly is connected to the first terminal portion of the top cover, and at the front end of the battery pack in the length direction, a second electrical connection member extending from the uppermost cell module assembly extends below the top cover and is connected to the second terminal portion of the top cover.

21. A battery pack comprising: Into multiple layers of battery modules, The trays supported by steel bars are stacked into a plurality of layers in a vertical direction, and a plurality of single module assemblies on the trays of each layer are connected to each other to form the battery module.

22. The battery pack according to claim 21, wherein: The battery module is not covered with a module case, and the battery pack further includes a pack case to protect an internal structure.

23. The battery pack according to claim 21, wherein: The battery module has 4 to 6 layers.

24. An energy storage system comprising at least one battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 23.

Images