Battery pack and battery device having same

Abstract

A battery pack and a battery device utilize a cooling fluid and a cooling fluid circuit to cool battery cells in a normal operating state in which an event is not detected and to extinguish the event in an abnormal state. The cooling fluid circuit controls the inflow and outflow rates of the cooling fluid, such as fluid pumps or fluid valves connected to the inlets and outlets of the battery pack. In a normal operating state in which an event such as a fire, explosion, or gas emission of the battery cell is not detected, operating heat generated by charging and discharging of the battery cell may be rapidly cooled by submerged liquid cooling of the battery cell. In response to detecting the event, the event may be quickly extinguished using the cooling fluid by raising the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a preset elevated level.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and a battery device including the battery pack. Background Art

[0002] Generally, unlike primary batteries that cannot be recharged, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged. Secondary batteries are used as an energy source for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies. Depending on the type of external device to which they are applied, secondary batteries can be used in the form of a single battery or a group of multiple batteries connected and bundled into a unit.

[0003] Small mobile devices such as mobile phones can operate for a certain period using the output and capacity of a single battery. However, in cases where long-term operation or high-power operation is required (such as large mobile devices including laptops or electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles that consume a large amount of power), a group containing multiple batteries is preferred for larger output and capacity, and the output voltage or output current can increase with the number of built-in batteries. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure relates to embodiments of a battery pack and a battery device including the battery pack, in which immersion liquid cooling is used to effectively cool battery cells and quickly extinguish an event. The battery pack or the battery device including the battery pack is lightweight and compact because the cooling fluid and the cooling fluid circuit are used to cool the battery cells in a normal state where no event is detected without additional configuration, and to extinguish an event in an abnormal state. A cooling fluid circuit for controlling the inflow rate and outflow rate of the cooling fluid is provided, such as a fluid pump and a fluid valve respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of the battery pack, to make the cooling fluid flow. In a normal state where no event such as ignition, explosion, or gas emission of the battery cell is detected, the operating heat generated due to the charging and discharging of the battery cell can be quickly cooled by immersion liquid cooling of the battery cell. In response to detecting an event such as ignition, explosion, or gas emission of the battery cell, the event such as ignition, explosion, or gas emission of the battery cell can be quickly extinguished using the cooling fluid by raising the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a preset elevated level in response to the event compared to the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the normal state.

[0005] Additional aspects will be partially set forth in the following description, and will be partially obvious from the description, or can be learned by practicing the presented embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0006] The battery pack of the present disclosure may include: battery cells; a housing including an accommodation space for accommodating the battery cells and an inlet and an outlet for inflow and outflow of a cooling fluid for contacting the battery cells; a pressure gauge within the accommodation space and configured to detect an internal pressure of the accommodation space; and a control unit configured to control at least one of an inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and an outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet in response to an increase in the internal pressure of the accommodation space detected by the pressure gauge.

[0007] For example, the housing may include: a first side portion on which the inlet and the outlet are co-located to form a U-shaped turning path of the cooling fluid within the housing, and a second side portion facing the first side portion in a first direction along which the battery cells are arranged and having a first terminal and a second terminal for electrical connection of the battery cells.

[0008] For example, the housing may have a length in the first direction corresponding to a long side, a width in a second direction corresponding to a short side, and a height in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. The inlet and the outlet may be located at a relatively low first level height and a relatively high second level height in the third direction, respectively.

[0009] For example, the inlet and the outlet may be located at different diagonal positions in the second direction and the third direction.

[0010] For example, the control unit may be configured to increase a fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space by controlling at least one of the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet in response to occurrence of an event in which exhaust gas is emitted from at least one of the battery cells detected by the pressure gauge.

[0011] For example, a fluid pump may be connected to the inlet to enhance the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet, a fluid valve may be connected to the outlet side to open or close or change an opening degree, thereby controlling the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet, and the control unit may control at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid valve to i) increase an output of the fluid pump connected to the inlet side, ii) decrease the opening degree of the fluid valve connected to the outlet side, or iii) close the fluid valve connected to the outlet side.

[0012] For example, the control unit can control the fluid pump and the fluid valve together to increase the inflow rate at the inlet and decrease the outflow rate at the outlet, thereby accelerating the rise of the fluid level of the cooling fluid.

[0013] For example, the control unit can increase the output of the fluid pump at the inlet and can close the fluid valve on the outlet side to increase the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and block the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet.

[0014] For example, the control unit can be configured to open the fluid valve in a normal operating state where the pressure gauge does not detect the occurrence of an event, and can be configured to close the fluid valve in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event.

[0015] For example, in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event, the control unit can raise the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level higher than a third level, where the third level is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the normal operating state.

[0016] For example, the battery pack can further include a cover that includes an additional outlet at a fifth level higher than the battery cell and is configured to discharge exhaust gas from an exhaust port at an upper position of at least one of the battery cells in the battery cell, and the control unit can increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level substantially equal to the fifth level in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event.

[0017] For example, in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event, the fluid level of the cooling fluid can have risen to the fourth level and can flow through the additional outlet under the control of the control unit.

[0018] For example, in a normal operating state where the pressure gauge does not detect the occurrence of an event, the third level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space can be set to be substantially equal to or higher than the second level where the outlet is located.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a battery device may include: the battery pack; and a cooling fluid circuit connected between the inlet and the outlet. The cooling fluid circuit may include: a fluid pump connected to the inlet to enhance the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet; a fluid valve connected to the outlet to control the opening or closing or the degree of opening and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet; a heat exchanger connected between the fluid pump and the fluid valve to cool the cooling fluid that turns into a high-temperature state when passing through the accommodation space containing the battery cells; and a fluid tank for storing the cooling fluid downstream of the heat exchanger.

[0020] For example, in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event of exhaust gas being discharged from at least one of the battery cells, the control unit may increase the level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space by controlling at least one of the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet.

[0021] For example, the control unit may be configured to control at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid valve to i) increase the output of the fluid pump, ii) decrease the degree of opening of the fluid valve, or iii) close the fluid valve.

[0022] For example, the control unit may jointly control the fluid pump and the fluid valve to increase the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and decrease the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet, thereby accelerating the increase in the fluid level of the cooling fluid.

[0023] For example, the control unit may increase the output of the fluid pump at the inlet and may close the fluid valve at the outlet, thereby increasing the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and blocking the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet.

[0024] For example, in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event, the control unit may raise the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level higher than a third level, where the third level is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the normal operating state.

[0025] For example, the battery device may further include a cover that includes an additional outlet at a fifth level higher than the battery cells and is configured to discharge exhaust gas from an exhaust port at an upper position of at least one of the battery cells, and the control unit may increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to the fourth level substantially equal to the fifth level in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment;

[0028] Figure 2 is a view of a battery device according to an embodiment;

[0029] Figure 3 is along Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of the battery pack shown, showing the fluid levels of different cooling fluids and the levels of the internal components of the battery pack;

[0030] Figure 4 shows the Figure 1 fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack shown in the normal state; and

[0031] Figure 5 is a view showing the Figure 1 fluid level of the cooling fluid that has risen in response to an event occurring in the battery pack shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as limited to the description set forth herein. Accordingly, the embodiments are described below only by referring to the drawings to explain aspects of the present specification. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. A phrase such as "at least one of" modifies the entire list of elements if it follows the list of elements and does not modify a single element in the list.

[0033] Hereinafter, a battery pack and a battery device including the battery pack according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0034] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 2 is a view of a battery device according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 3 is along Figure 1 a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of the battery pack shown, showing the fluid levels of different cooling fluids and the levels of the internal components of the battery pack.

[0037] Figure 4 A diagram showing the Figure 1 fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack shown in the normal state.

[0038] Figure 5 A diagram showing the Figure 1 fluid level of the cooling fluid that has risen in response to an event occurring in the battery pack shown.

[0039] Referring to the accompanying drawings, a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment may include a plurality of battery cells 10 and a housing 101. The housing 101 includes an accommodation space G for accommodating the plurality of battery cells 10 and a cooling fluid in contact with the plurality of battery cells 10. The housing 101 includes an inlet 110 and an outlet 120 for the inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid, a pressure gauge 180 disposed within the accommodation space G and configured to detect the internal pressure within the accommodation space G, and a control unit 140 configured to control at least one of the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet 120 in response to the pressure gauge 180 detecting an increase in the internal pressure within the accommodation space G.

[0040] The battery device may include the battery pack 100 and a cooling fluid circuit 200 connected between the inlet 110 and the outlet 120. The cooling fluid circuit 200 may include a fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 side to enhance the inflow rate of the inlet 110; a fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 to open or close or change the opening degree, thereby controlling the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet 120; a heat exchanger 230 disposed between the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 and configured to cool the cooling fluid heated when passing through the accommodation space G accommodating the plurality of battery cells 10; and a fluid tank 250 for storing the cooling fluid downstream of the heat exchanger 230.

[0041] Hereinafter, the battery pack 100 according to an embodiment and the battery device including the battery pack 100 will be described in more detail.

[0042] A battery pack 100 according to an embodiment may include a housing 101. The housing 101 includes an accommodation space G accommodating a plurality of battery cells 10 arranged in a first direction Z1. The housing 101 may be a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box, including a long side corresponding to the length extending in the first direction Z1, a short side corresponding to the width extending in a second direction Z2 different from the first direction Z1, and a height extending in a third direction Z3 intersecting (or crossing) the first direction Z1 and the second direction Z2.

[0043] The inlet 110 and the outlet 120 may be on one side of the housing 101 to form a fluid connection with a cooling fluid circuit 200 that provides a circulation path for a cooling fluid responsible for cooling and extinguishing the battery pack 100, and a fluid pump 210 and a fluid valve 220 for controlling the flow rate of the cooling fluid may be connected to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120, respectively. In one embodiment, the battery cells 10 in the normal state may be cooled by a cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G that houses a plurality of battery cells 10, and in response to an event such as overheating, explosion, flame, or ignition occurring in at least one of the battery cells 10, the battery cell 10 may be extinguished, thereby eliminating the event. Herein, the fact that the cooling fluid for cooling the battery cells 10 extinguishes the battery cell 10 in which the event has occurred may mean that events such as overheating, explosion, flame, and ignition of the battery cell 10 are quelled or alleviated, such that the event of the battery cell 10 no longer progresses and is thus eliminated. In this sense, "extinguish" may be broadly understood as eliminating events such as overheating, explosion, flame, and ignition, rather than extinguishing the flame of the battery cell 10. As described below, in one embodiment, in response to the occurrence of an event, the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G that houses a plurality of battery cells 10 may cool the battery cells 10 at a relatively low third level h3 (e.g., at a third level h3 lower than the height of the battery cells 10) in the normal state, and may extinguish the battery cells 10 at a relatively high fourth level h4 (e.g., at a fourth level h4 higher than the height of the battery cells 10).

[0044] In one embodiment, the battery cell 10 may include an exhaust port 10' for discharging the exhaust gas of the battery cell 10 at an upper position of the battery cell 10, and the exhaust port 10' may be at an upper position of the battery cell 10, e.g., at a sixth level h6 that is the highest height of the battery cell 10. In one or more embodiments, in the normal operating state, the fluid level of the cooling fluid may be maintained at a third level h3 that is lower than the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' is located at the upper position of the battery cell 10. Thus, the exhaust gas generated from the battery cell 10 may be discharged through the exhaust port 10' in response to the occurrence of an event, thereby preparing for the occurrence of the event. In response to the occurrence of an event, the fluid level of the cooling fluid may rise to a fourth level h4 that is higher than the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' is located at the upper position of the battery cell 10, thereby submerging (or flooding) the entire battery cell 10 and extinguishing the event occurring in the battery cell 10. In one embodiment, the cooling fluid may be a liquid having a relatively high heat capacity compared to a gas such as air, and the plurality of battery cells 10 housed in the accommodation space G may be cooled by liquid cooling by being submerged (or flooded) in the cooling fluid and directly contacting the cooling fluid.

[0045] In one embodiment, in response to an event in which exhaust gas is discharged from one of the plurality of battery cells 10, the occurrence of such an event can be detected by an increase in pressure in the accommodation space G that houses the plurality of battery cells 10, and the exhaust gas discharged into the accommodation space G through the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 can increase the pressure in the accommodation space G, which is captured or detected by the pressure gauge 180 as the occurrence of the event. In response to detecting the occurrence of the event, that is, after the exhaust gas of the battery cell 10 is discharged from the exhaust port 10', under the control of the control unit 140 that captures the occurrence of the event, the exhaust port 10' that has completed exhaust gas discharge can be immersed in the cooling fluid that has risen to a relatively high fourth level h4, thereby extinguishing the flame discharged together with the exhaust gas. In some embodiments, even after detecting the event of discharging exhaust gas, the residual exhaust gas can continue to be discharged through the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10, and the fourth level h4 corresponding to the occurrence of the event can be set to a height relatively lower than the exhaust port 10' formed at the upper position of the battery cell 10 to prevent the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 from being immersed in the cooling fluid that has risen to the fourth level h4. For example, in some embodiments, the fourth level h4 to which the cooling fluid rises in response to the event can be set to be higher than the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 is formed at the upper position of the battery cell 10. For example, considering the time required to raise the fluid level to the relatively high fourth level h4 in response to the event, the fourth level h4 corresponding to the event can be set to a level higher than the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 is located at the upper position of the battery cell 10. In one embodiment, the fourth level h4 to which the cooling fluid rises in response to the event can be set to be higher than the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 is formed at the upper position of the battery cell 10. After the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 fills the accommodation space G, the fluid level of the cooling fluid rises to the relatively elevated fourth level h4, and an increase in pressure in the accommodation space G is detected according to the occurrence of the event, even if the relatively elevated fourth level h4 is set to a level higher than the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 is formed at the upper position of the battery cell 10 (that is, after the exhaust gas is sufficiently discharged and causes an increase in pressure in the accommodation space G that houses the battery cell 10, the fluid level of the cooling fluid rises). In addition, as described above, although the occurrence of the event is detected by the pressure gauge 180 that detects an increase in pressure in the accommodation space G, under the control of the control unit 140 that detects the occurrence of the event, that is, under the control of the control unit 140, it takes some time for the fluid level in the accommodation space G to rise to the relatively high fourth level h4, which increases the inflow rate of the inlet 110 and reduces or blocks the outflow rate of the outlet 120.Even if the fluid level of the cooling fluid corresponding to the event (e.g., the fourth level h4) is set to be higher than the level of the sixth level h6 at which the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 is located at the upper position of the battery cell 10, the discharge of the exhaust gas through the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 will not be hindered due to the increase in the fluid level of the cooling fluid in which the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10 is immersed or submerged. This is because the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G is increased by the control unit 140, and the control unit 140 detects the occurrence of the event by the pressure gauge 180 that detects the increase in the pressure in the accommodation space G after the exhaust gas is sufficiently discharged and the pressure in the accommodation space G increases.

[0046] The fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 for controlling the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet 120 can be respectively connected to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the housing 101. The battery device according to an embodiment may include a battery pack 100 and a cooling fluid circuit 200 connected between the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100. The cooling fluid circuit 200 may include a fluid pump 210 and a fluid valve 220 for respectively controlling the inflow rate of the inlet 110 and the outflow rate of the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100, and the cooling fluid circuit 200 may further include a heat exchanger 230 and a fluid tank 250 for storing the cooling fluid. The heat exchanger 230 is connected between the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 to cool the cooling fluid heated when passing through the accommodation space G, and the fluid tank 250 is connected downstream of the heat exchanger 230 to store the cooling fluid cooled by the heat exchanger 230.

[0047] In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 may include a control unit 140 for controlling the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet 120, and may further include a pressure gauge 180 for detecting an increase in the pressure in the accommodation space G in response to the occurrence of an event in which exhaust gas is discharged from at least one of the plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in the accommodation space G. In response to the pressure gauge 180 detecting the occurrence of the event, the control unit 140 may control the inflow rate of the inlet 110 and the outflow rate of the outlet 120 to raise the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level h4 that is higher than the fluid level (e.g., a third level h3) of the cooling fluid in a normal operating state (i.e., a normal state in which the occurrence of the event is not detected by the pressure gauge 180). In one embodiment, by raising the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level h4 that is higher than the third level h3 in the normal state (e.g., by raising the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a height of the fourth level h4 that is higher than the height of the battery cells 10) in response to the occurrence of an event in which exhaust gas is discharged from at least one of the battery cells 10, the entire battery cells 10 may be submerged (or flooded) in the cooling fluid, thereby eliminating overheating of the battery cells 10 and extinguishing the flames of the battery cells 10.

[0048] In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 may include an inlet 110 and an outlet 120 that form a fluid connection with the battery pack 100 and are located on a first side S1 of the housing 101. A first terminal 131 and a second terminal 132 that form an electrical connection with the battery pack 100 are located on a second side S2 of the housing 101. The first side S1 faces the second side S2 in a first direction Z1. Thus, in one embodiment, the housing 101 may include a first side S1 that forms the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 for the inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid, and a second side S2 that forms the first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132 for electrical input and output, and the first side S1 and the second side S2 may face each other in the first direction Z1 in which the battery cells 10 are arranged or in a second direction Z2 that intersects the first direction Z1. In one embodiment, the first side S1 and the second side S2 may face each other in the first direction Z1 along which the battery cells 10 are arranged. The inlet 110 and the outlet 120 for the inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid may be on the first side S1 of the housing 101 and may be formed at a first level h1 and a second level h2 that are different from each other in a third direction Z3, respectively. In a normal state where no event is detected, the inflow rate through the inlet 110 formed at the relatively low first level h1 and the outflow rate through the outlet 120 formed at the relatively high second level h2 are balanced with each other (e.g., in a balanced state), so that the cooling fluid is maintained at a constant (or substantially constant) third level h3 in the accommodation space G. In one embodiment, in the normal state, the third level h3 of the cooling fluid may be maintained by balancing the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate through the outlet 120, and the third level h3 may be set to a level higher than the first level h1 and the second level h2 at which the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 are respectively located. In one embodiment, since the first level h1 at which the inlet 110 is formed is set to a level lower than the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located, the cooling fluid introduced through the inlet 110 may fill the accommodation space G by increasing the fluid level from the lower part of the accommodation space G toward the upper part where the outlet 120 of the accommodation space G is located. The third level h3 in the normal state or the fourth level h4 in response to the occurrence of an event may be achieved by filling the housing 101 from the lower part of the housing 101 to the upper part of the housing 101, and the third level h3 and the fourth level h4 set respectively in response to the normal state and the occurrence of an event may be achieved in the normal state and during the occurrence of an event after being adjusted by controlling the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate through the outlet 120.

[0049] The inlet 110 and the outlet 120 may be at a first level h1 and a second level h2 that are different from each other in the third direction Z3 on a plane of a first side portion S1 of the housing 101 formed by the second direction Z2 and the third direction Z3. Positioned at different positions in the second direction Z2 and the third direction Z3 on the first side portion S1, the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 may be diagonally positioned with respect to each other in the second direction Z2 and the third direction Z3. Thus, with the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 diagonally formed on the first side portion S1 of the housing 101, a path of the cooling fluid passing uniformly (or substantially uniformly) from the lower left portion where the inlet 110 is located to the upper right portion where the outlet 120 is located in the second direction Z2 and the third direction Z3 may be in the accommodation space G where the plurality of battery cells 10 are accommodated in the housing 101. With the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 diagonally formed on the first side portion S1 of the housing 101, a U-shaped turning path of the cooling fluid may be achieved. The inlet 110 and the outlet 120 may also be positioned at different first level h1 and second level h2 in the third direction Z3 such that the cooling fluid passes uniformly (or substantially uniformly) through the accommodation space G in the third direction Z3. The inlet 110 may be positioned at a relatively low first level h1, and the outlet 120 may be positioned at a relatively high second level h2. The second level h2 where the outlet 120 is located may be set to be substantially equal to or lower than a third level h3 that is the level of the cooling fluid in a normal state, and may be set to the height of the battery cell 10, for example, a level lower than the third level h3, which is lower than a sixth level h6 where the exhaust port 10' is positioned at an upper position of the battery cell 10.

[0050] The first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132 for electrical input and output may be on a second side portion S2 of the housing 101, and the first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132 included in the input / output terminal 130 and having different polarities may be electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in the accommodation space G of the housing 101. The plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in the accommodation space G may be connected to an external device, such as an external load or a charger, through the first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132, and may be connected to the external load to supply power during discharge, or may be connected to an external charger to be charged. The first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132 may form a charging path and a discharging path of the battery pack 100 by providing an electrical connection between the plurality of battery cells 10 inside the housing 101 and the external device outside the housing 101.

[0051] The cover 150 may be on the upper part of the outer casing 101, and an exhaust port or outlet 150' for discharging exhaust gas discharged from at least one of the plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in the outer casing 101 may be on the cover 150. As described below, in one embodiment, the outlet 150' may be configured to detect a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the outlet 150' and react according to the pressure difference. In one or more embodiments, the outlet 150' may be opened or closed according to the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the outlet 150'. For example, the outlet 150' may be opened in response to the internal pressure being higher than the external pressure, and may be closed in response to the internal pressure being lower than the external pressure. As described below, in one embodiment, the cooling fluid flowing into the outer casing 101 through the inlet 110 or the cooling fluid flowing out of the outer casing 101 through the outlet 120 may eliminate events such as fire or explosion by filling the accommodation space G inside the outer casing 101, because the net inflow rate into the outer casing 101 increases under the control of the control unit 140 that detects the occurrence of events such as fire or explosion from the plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in the outer casing 101, and the cooling fluid may, for example, extinguish the fire by submerging the plurality of battery cells 10 accommodated in the accommodation space G. In one embodiment, the occurrence of the event may be detected by the pressure gauge 180 inside the accommodation space G, and the pressure gauge 180 is configured to detect an increase in the pressure in the accommodation space G in response to the occurrence of the event or the discharge of exhaust gas from the battery cell 10. The excess cooling fluid exceeding the volume of the accommodation space G may flow out of the battery pack 100 through the outlet 150' formed on the cover 150 (for example, through the outlet 150' at the highest fifth level h5 of the battery pack 100, for example, through the outlet 150' on the cover 150 at the fifth level h5). Thus, in one embodiment, the outlet 150' on the cover 150 may provide a discharge position for discharging the excess cooling fluid exceeding the volume of the accommodation space G or overflowing from the accommodation space G together with the exhaust gas discharged from the plurality of battery cells 10 to the outside. For example, in one embodiment, different from a general exhaust port 10' through which a gas such as exhaust gas passes, the outlet 150' on the cover 150 may be or include a structure or member configured to allow a liquid such as a cooling fluid and a gas such as exhaust gas to pass through or permeate together, that is, a structure or member through which both the gas and the liquid can pass through or permeate. For example, the outlet 150' may fluidly connect the inside and the outside of the outer casing 101 in response to an increase in pressure, which may mean that the outlet 150' allows a fluid (for example, a gas such as exhaust gas and a liquid such as a cooling fluid) to pass through or permeate between the inside and the outside of the outer casing 101 in response to the occurrence of the event.

[0052] In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 can eliminate or substantially eliminate an event (e.g., extinguish a fire) of the battery cell 10 by submerging (or flooding) the battery cell 10. Since the cooling fluid fills the housing 101 at least up to the level adjacent to the outlet 150', it is possible to prevent (or at least mitigate) the exhaust gas discharged through the outlet 150' from causing a fire or spreading the fire to the outside due to the exhaust gas discharged from the battery pack 100. For example, the outlet 150' configured to form a communication between the inside and the outside of the housing 101 when an event occurs connects the inside of the housing 101 to the outside, and the discharge of high-temperature exhaust gas and fire through the outlet 150' to the outside may cause an explosion or the spread of the fire due to the contact between the exhaust gas and the external oxygen. However, in one embodiment, by applying the submerging method to eliminate the event, the explosion or the spread of the fire outside the battery pack 100 can be blocked by the cooling fluid (e.g., the excess cooling fluid that fills the inside of the housing 101 to the relatively elevated fourth level h4 of the cooling fluid and is discharged to the outside through the outlet 150') whose inflow and outflow through the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 are controlled. Different from the embodiments of the present disclosure, in order to block the spread of the fire to the outside without the cooling fluid for extinguishing the fire, a separate cooling or fire extinguishing structure can be applied to the outlet 150'. However, in one embodiment, the fire or the spread of the fire at the outlet 150' can be blocked by the cooling fluid for extinguishing the fire that overflows through the outlet 150' or rises to at least about the fifth level h5 of the outlet 150', and for example, a series of explosions of the electric vehicle due to an external fire or the spread of the fire at the outlet 150' can be prevented (or at least mitigated).

[0053] A battery device according to an embodiment may include a battery pack 100 and a cooling fluid circuit 200 fluidly connected to the battery pack 100. The cooling fluid circuit 200 may be connected to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100 to supply cooling fluid to the battery pack 100 and / or receive the cooling fluid discharged from the battery pack 100. A heat exchanger 230 may be connected between a fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 and a fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 to provide a circulation path between the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100 (e.g., to form a periodic temperature curve), and a fluid tank 250 may be connected between the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 (e.g., between the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 and downstream of the heat exchanger 230) to receive or supply the flow rate of the cooling fluid.

[0054] In one embodiment, the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 may be connected to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100, respectively, and the fluid pump 210 may generate a pressure difference to form an inflow rate toward each battery pack 100 and an outflow rate from the battery pack 100. For example, in one embodiment, by providing a fluid pump 210 in the cooling fluid circuit 200 connected between the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 to control both the inflow rate at the inlet 110 and the outflow rate at the outlet 120, rather than independently controlling the inflow rate and the outflow rate, the inflow rate and the outflow rate can be simultaneously controlled at a constant or substantially constant flow rate (e.g., the volume flowing through the cross-sectional area of the inlet 110 or the outlet 120 per unit time), thereby forming a steady-state flow with a constant or substantially constant flow rate. As described below, when, in response to detecting the occurrence of an event, the fluid pump 210 for enhancing the inflow rate on the inlet 110 side increases its output and the fluid valve 220 for controlling the opening and closing of the outflow rate on the outlet 120 side closes, the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G can increase to a fourth level h4 that is relatively higher than the third level h3 in the normal state.

[0055] In one embodiment, in response to the battery pack 100 being in a normal state, the control unit 140 may generate a steady-state flow to keep the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the accommodation space G inside the battery pack 100 constant (or substantially constant) (e.g., to keep the fluid level of the cooling fluid at the third level h3). In response to the occurrence of an event, the control unit 140 may increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level h4 that is higher than the third level h3 in the normal state. The cooling fluid at the relatively elevated fourth level h4 may extinguish a fire caused by high-temperature exhaust gas from the exhaust port 10' at the upper position of the battery cell 10 by submerging (or flooding) the battery cell 10 to its upper position. When the cooling fluid flows out through the outlet 150' of the outer casing 101 that provides an exhaust path for the exhaust gas, the cooling fluid may also prevent the generation or spread of a fire caused by the high-temperature exhaust gas around the outlet 150'.

[0056] In one embodiment, in response to an event occurring in at least one of the battery cells 10 housed in the battery pack 100, exhaust gas may be discharged through the exhaust port 10' at the upper position of the battery cell 10, and the internal pressure of the accommodation space G containing the exhaust gas may increase. In response to the control unit 140 detecting an increase in the pressure in the accommodation space G, the inflow rate generated by the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 side may increase, such that the fluid level of the cooling fluid may rise inside the battery pack 100, and the outflow rate may be reduced or blocked by the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120. In one embodiment, the occurrence of an event in the battery pack 100 may be detected by an increase in the pressure in the accommodation space G, and the pressure gauge 180 for measuring the internal pressure of the accommodation space G may be located inside the battery pack 100. For example, in one embodiment, the pressure gauge 180 may be positioned higher than the third level h3, where the third level h3 is the fluid level of the cooling fluid that fills the accommodation space G in the battery pack 100 in the normal state. The pressure gauge 180 may measure the pressure of the empty space above the accommodation space G that is not filled with the cooling fluid rather than the pressure of the cooling fluid, and may detect the occurrence of an event by detecting an increase in pressure caused by the exhaust gas being discharged into the accommodation space G through the exhaust port 10' formed at the upper position of the battery cell 10. In some embodiments, the pressure gauge 180 may be positioned lower than the third level h3, which is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the normal state. The pressure of the exhaust gas filling the accommodation space G may be transmitted to the pressure gauge 180 immersed in the cooling fluid through the liquid level of the cooling fluid, and the occurrence of an event may be detected as a pressure greater than or equal to a preset threshold detected by the pressure gauge 180.

[0057] In one embodiment, controlling the inflow rate of the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 and the outflow rate of the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 in response to the occurrence of an event to raise the fluid level of the cooling fluid inside the accommodation space G may mean increasing the inflow rate generated by the fluid pump 210 and controlling the opening or closing of the fluid valve 220 to reduce or block the outflow rate of the fluid valve 220. For example, increasing the inflow rate of the fluid pump 210 may mean relatively increasing the inflow rate through the inlet 110 in response to the occurrence of an event compared to the inflow rate generated through the inlet 110 in the battery pack 100 in the normal state, and / or may mean increasing the input current input to the fluid pump 210 to increase the output of the fluid pump 210. For example, reducing or blocking the outflow rate of the fluid valve 220 may mean relatively reducing the outflow rate through the outlet 120 in response to the occurrence of an event compared to the outflow rate through the outlet 120 in the normal state, and / or may mean blocking or reducing the outflow rate through the outlet 120 by controlling the opening or closing or the degree of opening of the fluid valve 220 (e.g., closing the fluid valve 220 or reducing the degree of opening of the fluid valve 220).

[0058] In one embodiment, in response to the occurrence of an event, the inflow rate through the inlet 110 can be increased, and the outflow rate through the outlet 120 can be blocked (or at least reduced) so as to raise the fluid level of the cooling fluid inside the accommodation space G. In one or more embodiments, in response to the occurrence of an event, the output of the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 can be increased, and the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 side can be closed.

[0059] In one embodiment, by increasing the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and blocking (or at least reducing) the outflow rate through the outlet 120 in response to the occurrence of an event, the fluid level of the cooling fluid can rapidly increase inside the accommodation space G, and the progress of the event can be blocked (for example, a chain fire or explosion of the cells adjacent to the battery cell 10 where the event occurs can be prevented, and / or the spread of an external fire or flame through the outlet 150' can be prevented). In one or more embodiments, compared with increasing the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and reducing the outflow rate through the outlet 120, by increasing the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and blocking the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet 120, the fluid level of the cooling fluid can be increased inside the accommodation space G in a shorter period of time.

[0060] In one embodiment, the fluid valve 220 for controlling the opening and closing of the outflow rate through the outlet 120 can be at the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100. The control unit 140 can open the fluid valve 220 in a normal state where the occurrence of an event is not detected to allow the outflow rate through the outlet 120 from the opened fluid valve 220. The control unit 140 can close the fluid valve 220 at the outlet 120 or reduce the opening degree of the cooling fluid in response to detecting the occurrence of an event so as to reduce or block the outflow rate through the outlet 120. That is, in one embodiment, in response to detecting the occurrence of an event, the control unit 140 can increase the output of the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 to increase the inflow rate through the inlet 110, and can block or reduce the outflow rate through the outlet 120 to be lower than the outflow rate in the normal state by closing the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 or by reducing the opening degree of the fluid valve 220.

[0061] In one embodiment, in response to detecting the occurrence of an event, the control unit 140 can control the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate through the outlet 120 together by controlling the opening or closing or opening degree of the fluid valve 220 and the output of the fluid pump 210, so as to accelerate the increase in the fluid level of the cooling fluid, or the control unit 140 can separately control the opening or closing or opening degree of the fluid valve 220 and the output of the fluid pump 210.

[0062] In one embodiment, the inflow rate generated by the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 of the battery pack 100 and the outflow rate controlled by the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100 can be controlled independently and differently from each other. The fluid tank 250 can be connected between the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 of the cooling fluid circuit 200 fluidly connected to the battery pack 100 to buffer the difference between the inflow rate at the inlet 110 and the outflow rate at the outlet 120. In one or more embodiments, in response to an event occurring, the inflow rate can increase as the output of the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 increases, but the outflow rate can be reduced or blocked depending on the opening or closing or degree of opening of the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120. The fluid tank 250 can be connected between the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 to buffer the imbalance between the inflow rate and the outflow rate. In one or more embodiments, the fluid tank 250 can store additional cooling fluid or supply cooling fluid while buffering the imbalance between the inflow rate enhanced by the fluid pump 210 and the outflow rate controlled by the fluid valve 220.

[0063] In one embodiment, in response to an event occurring, the inflow rate through the inlet 110 can be increased by the fluid tank 250 rather than by the circulation of the cooling fluid from the outflow rate through the outlet 120, and the cooling fluid stored in the fluid tank 250 can be supplied to increase the inflow rate through the inlet 110. The fluid tank 250 can store the cooling fluid cooled by the heat exchanger 230, and can maintain the relatively low temperature of the cooling fluid and supply the cooling fluid flowing through the inlet 110 through the fluid pump 210.

[0064] The fluid tank 250 can receive the cooling fluid cooled by the heat exchanger 230 and provide a storage space for the cooling fluid, and can provide a storage space isolated from the external environment to maintain the relatively low-temperature cooling fluid. The heat exchanger 230 connected to the cooling fluid circuit 200 before the fluid tank 250 can be configured to cool the relatively high-temperature cooling fluid discharged through the outlet 120 (for example, the heat exchanger 230 can include a tube accommodating a flowing phase change material that involves a phase change between gas and liquid and can evaporate by the heat from the cooling fluid). In one embodiment, the cooling fluid circuit 200 connected between the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100 can have a relatively low-temperature section connected to the inlet 110 before and after the heat exchanger 230 and a relatively high-temperature section connected to the outlet 120.

[0065] In one embodiment, a pressure gauge 180 for detecting the occurrence of an event may be connected to an inlet 110 and / or an outlet 120 to which a fluid pump 210 and a fluid valve 220 are respectively connected, and the operations of the fluid pump 210 and / or the fluid valve 220 connected to the inlet 110 and / or the outlet 120 may be directly controlled by the pressure gauge 180 connected to the inlet 110 and / or the outlet 120. In one or more embodiments, the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port 10' at the upper position of the battery cell 10 may transfer pressure through the liquid level of the cooling fluid while filling the empty space above the liquid level of the cooling fluid in the accommodation space G. The increase in pressure in the accommodation space G may be transferred to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 for the inflow and outflow of the cooling fluid, and may be detected by the pressure gauge 180 at the inlet 110 and / or the outlet 120. Through the pressure gauge 180 at the inlet 110 and / or the outlet 120, the inflow rate may be increased by increasing the output of the fluid pump 210 at the inlet 110, and the outflow rate may be reduced or blocked by adjusting the opening or closing or the degree of opening of the fluid valve 220 at the outlet 120.

[0066] In some embodiments, the pressure gauge 180 may be in the empty space above the accommodation space G at a level higher than the liquid level of the cooling fluid to detect the pressure of the exhaust gas discharged towards the upper part of the accommodation space G, the pressure gauge 180 may be at a level lower than the liquid level of the cooling fluid inside the accommodation space G to detect the pressure of the exhaust gas transferred through the liquid level of the cooling fluid, or the pressure gauge 180 may be at the inlet 110 and / or the outlet 120 on the first side portion S1 of the housing 101 to detect the pressure of the exhaust gas transferred through the liquid level of the cooling fluid. The pressure gauge 180 may be on any one or both of the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 on the first side portion S1 of the housing 101 to control the operations of the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 respectively connected to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120.

[0067] In one embodiment, the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 may be at a first level h1 and a second level h2, respectively, and the first level h1 and the second level h2 are different from each other in a third direction Z3 on a first side S1 of the housing 101. The cooling fluid may be supplied from the inlet 110 at a relatively low first level h1, may pass through the accommodation space G of the battery pack 100, and may be discharged through the outlet 120 at a relatively high second level h2. The second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located may be set to be equal to or lower than the height of a third level h3 corresponding to the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack 100 in a normal operating state, so as to allow the cooling fluid to flow out of the battery pack 100 in a normal state. In one or more embodiments, the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located may be set to be equal to or lower than the height of the third level h3 which is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack 100 in a normal state, and may be set to be lower than the height of a fourth level h4 which is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack 100 in response to the occurrence of an event. In one embodiment, the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G may increase in response to the occurrence of an event, and the fourth level h4 set in the battery pack 100 in response to the occurrence of the event may be higher than the third level h3 which is the level of the cooling fluid in response to the battery pack 100 being in a normal operating state. Therefore, the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located may be set to be equal to or lower than the height of the third level h3 which is lower than the fourth level h4.

[0068] Thus, in one embodiment, the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located may be at a height lower than the height of a third level h3 corresponding to the fluid level of the cooling fluid of the battery cell 10 in a normal operating state. Since the third level h3 in a normal operating state may be lower than the height of the battery cell 10, the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located may be lower than the height of the battery cell 10. Thus, the exhaust gas of the battery cell 10 may be discharged into the accommodation space G through an exhaust port 10' at a sixth level h6 corresponding to the height or the highest height of the battery cell 10. In one or more embodiments, the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located in the third direction Z3 is lower than the third level h3 which is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in a normal operating state, and the third level h3 which is the fluid level of the cooling fluid in a normal operating state is lower than the height of the battery cell 10 or the sixth level h6 of the exhaust port 10' of the battery cell 10.

[0069] In one embodiment, the cover 150 may be located on the housing 101 in which the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 are positioned, and the outlet 150' at the fifth level h5 (which is the highest height of the battery pack 100 (e.g., the fifth level h5 is equal to the height of the cover 150)) of the cover 150 may discharge the exhaust gas discharged from the battery cell 10 into the accommodation space G to the outside of the accommodation space G. The excess cooling fluid exceeding the volume of the accommodation space G or the excess cooling fluid flowing out of the accommodation space G may be discharged to the outside of the accommodation space G through the outlet 150'. In one or more embodiments, the fifth level h5 of the outlet 150' may be set to a level higher than that of the battery cell 10 such that the exhaust gas discharged from the exhaust port 10' at the upper position of the battery cell 10 may be discharged to the outside.

[0070] In one embodiment, the fifth level h5 at which the outlet 150' is located may be set to be substantially equal to the fourth level h4 of the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack 100 in response to an event occurrence. The excess cooling fluid remaining after filling the fourth level h4 may be discharged to the outside of the battery pack 100 through the outlet 150'. In addition, the fifth level h5 at which the outlet 150' is located may be set to be higher than the third level h3, and the third level h3 is set to be lower than the height of the fourth level h4 of the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack 100 in response to an event occurrence. The fifth level h5 at which the outlet 150' is located may be set to be higher than the height of the third level h3 of the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the battery pack 100 in a normal operating state, and may be set to be higher than the height of the second level h2 at which the outlet 120 is located, and the second level h2 is set to be lower than the height of the third level h3 of the fluid level of the cooling fluid in a normal operating state.

[0071] In one embodiment, in response to the occurrence of an event detected by the pressure gauge 180 for measuring the pressure in the accommodation space G, the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220 respectively connected to the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 of the battery pack 100 can be controlled to increase the output of the fluid pump 210 and / or adjust the opening or closing or the degree of opening of the fluid valve 220. The output of the fluid pump 210 or the opening or closing or the degree of opening of the fluid valve 220 can be controlled by an electrical measurement signal received from the pressure gauge 180 and, for example, can be controlled by the control unit 140 which receives the measurement signal from the pressure gauge 180, compares the measurement signal with a preset threshold to determine whether the event has occurred, and outputs a control signal according to the determination result to increase the output of the fluid pump 210 and / or close the fluid valve 220 or adjust the degree of opening of the fluid valve 220. In one or more embodiments, the control unit 140 can have any configuration (e.g., any shape and position) capable of outputting control signals for the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220. In one or more embodiments where the control signal is directly output from the pressure gauge 180 configured to detect the pressure in the accommodation space G to the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220, the pressure gauge 180 can be a combination of a measurement system for detecting pressure and the control unit 140, and the control unit 140 captures the occurrence of the event by comparing the detected pressure with a preset threshold and outputs the control signal to the fluid pump 210 and the fluid valve 220.

[0072] In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 may include a first side S1 and a second side S2 arranged to face each other in a first direction Z1 along which a plurality of battery cells 10 are arranged. An inlet 110 and an outlet 120 for the inflow and outflow of a cooling fluid, respectively, may be on the first side S1, and a first terminal 131 and a second terminal 132 that form a charging path and a discharging path of the battery pack 100 may be on the second side S2. In one embodiment, the battery pack 100 or the housing 101 that forms the outer shape of the battery pack 100 may have a rectangular or cuboid shape having long sides and short sides in a longitudinal direction and a width direction, respectively. The first direction Z1 along which the battery cells 10 are arranged is the longitudinal direction, and a second direction Z2 intersecting the first direction Z1 is the width direction. For example, since the first side S1 where the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 for the fluid connection of the battery pack 100 are located and the second side S2 where the first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132 for the electrical connection of the battery pack 100 are located face each other in the first direction Z1 corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 100, the inlet 110 and the outlet 110 forming the fluid connection and the first terminal 131 and the second terminal 132 forming the electrical connection may be spaced apart from each other as much as possible along the long side forming the length of the battery pack 100. For example, in order to avoid mis-energization or short circuit due to contact between the fluid connection and the electrical connection, the fluid connection and the electrical connection may be arranged on the first side S1 and the second side S2 in the longitudinal direction, respectively, such that the distance between the fluid connection and the electrical connection is maximized along the first direction Z1.

[0073] In one embodiment, the cooling fluid may be an insulating fluid, e.g., an insulating fluid configured not to cause electrical interference to the battery cell 10. In one embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 10 housed in the battery pack 100 may be surrounded by a relatively low-temperature cooling fluid introduced through an inlet 110 in fluid communication with the accommodation space G and may be cooled by liquid cooling, and heat exchange may occur through direct contact between the cooling fluid and the battery cell 10. The cooling fluid that receives heat from the battery cell 10 and turns into a relatively high-temperature state may be restored or returned to a low-temperature state by virtue of passing through a heat exchanger 230, which is connected to an external cooling fluid circuit 200 through an outlet 120. In one embodiment, the height difference between a first level h1 and a second level h2 in a third direction Z3 of the inlet 110 and the outlet 120 respectively may be such that the cooling fluid partially surrounds the battery cell 10 in the third direction Z3 and surrounds at least a part between the bottom at its lower position and the exhaust port 10' at its upper position of the battery cell 10. The cooling fluid may surround the battery cell 10 at a third level h3 in a normal operating state and surround the battery cell 10 at a fourth level h4 different from the third level h3 in response to an event occurring, which means that at least a part between the bottom of the battery cell 10 and the exhaust port 10' at the upper position of the battery cell 10 is surrounded by the cooling fluid.

[0074] In some embodiments, the cooling fluid may be an insulating fluid or a non-insulating fluid, and the battery cell 10 may include a fluid seal and an electrical insulator so as not to cause fluid leakage and electrical short circuit due to direct contact with the cooling fluid. In one or more embodiments, the battery cell 10 may include a fluid seal such as a gasket at a position where the housing of the battery cell 10 contacts the electrode 15 exposed thereon and at a position where the housing of the battery cell 10 contacts the exhaust port 10' on the housing, and may include an electrical insulator such as an insulating film.

[0075] In one embodiment, it is illustrated that when a pressure gauge 180 that captures or detects an increase in pressure of the battery cell 10 detects exhaust gas discharged from at least one battery cell 10, in response to the occurrence of an event, the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate through the outlet 120 are simultaneously controlled to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G from a third level h3 in the normal operation state to a fourth level h4. In some embodiments, by controlling at least one of the inflow rate through the inlet 110 and the outflow rate through the outlet 120 in response to the occurrence of an event, the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G can be raised from a third level h3 in the normal operation state to a fourth level h4 at the time of (or immediately after) the occurrence of the event, and the outflow rate through the outlet 120 can be controlled in a manner that increases the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space G in response to the occurrence of the event. In one or more embodiments, the fluid level of the cooling fluid can be raised in response to an event by reducing or blocking the outflow rate through the outlet 120. In one or more embodiments, the control unit 140 can control at least one of the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110 and the fluid valve 220 connected to the outlet 120 to i) increase the output of the fluid pump 210 connected to the inlet 110, ii) reduce the opening degree of the fluid valve 220 on the outlet 120 side, and / or iii) close the fluid valve 220 on the outlet 120 side.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the battery pack or the battery device including the battery pack is light and compact because the cooling fluid and the cooling fluid circuit are used to cool the battery cells in the normal open state without detecting an event and to extinguish the event in the abnormal state. A cooling fluid circuit for controlling the inflow rate and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid can be included, such as a fluid pump and a fluid valve respectively connected to the inlet and the outlet of the battery pack, to generate the flow of the cooling fluid. Therefore, the battery pack can be protected, and the battery cells can be effectively cooled by using immersion liquid cooling and rapid extinguishment of the event, and the spread of fire or explosion to the outside can be blocked. In the normal state where an event such as fire, explosion, or gas discharge of the battery cell is not detected, the operating heat generated due to the charging and discharging of the battery cell can be quickly cooled by the immersion liquid cooling of the battery cell, and in response to the detection of an event such as fire, explosion, or gas discharge of the battery cell, the event such as fire, explosion, or gas discharge of the battery cell can be quickly extinguished by using the cooling fluid by raising the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a preset elevated level in response to the event compared to the fluid level of the cooling fluid in the normal operation state.

[0077] It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The description of features or aspects in each embodiment is generally to be considered applicable to other similar features or aspects in other embodiments. Although one or more embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A battery pack comprising: Multiple battery cells; a housing including a housing space for housing the plurality of battery cells and an inlet and an outlet for inflow and outflow of a cooling fluid in contact with the plurality of battery cells; a pressure gauge in the accommodation space and configured to detect an internal pressure in the accommodation space; as well as A control unit is configured to control at least one of an inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and an outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet in response to detection of an increase in the internal pressure of the accommodating space by the pressure gauge.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: a first side portion, the inlet and the outlet being formed together on the first side portion to form a U-turn path for the cooling fluid within the housing, and A second side portion faces the first side portion in a first direction along which the plurality of battery cells are arranged, the second side portion including first and second terminals for being electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the outer case has a length in the first direction corresponding to a long side, a width in the second direction corresponding to a short side, and a height in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the inlet is at a height of a first level in the third direction and the outlet is at a height of a second level in the third direction that is higher than the first level. 4 . The battery pack according to claim 3 , wherein the inlet and the outlet are located at different diagonal positions in the second direction and the third direction.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further configured to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodating space by controlling at least one of the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet in response to the occurrence of an event in which exhaust gas is discharged from at least one of the plurality of battery cells detected by the pressure gauge.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, further comprising: a fluid pump connected to the inlet, the fluid pump being configured to enhance the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet; as well as a fluid valve connected to the outlet, the fluid valve being configured to open or close or vary the degree of opening so as to control the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet, and The control unit is further configured to control at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid valve to i) increase the output of the fluid pump connected to the inlet, ii) reduce the opening degree of the fluid valve connected to the outlet, or iii) close the fluid valve connected to the outlet.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to control both the fluid pump and the fluid valve to increase the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and reduce the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet, thereby accelerating the increase of the fluid level of the cooling fluid.

8. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the control unit is further configured to increase the output of the fluid pump at the inlet and close the fluid valve at the outlet, thereby increasing the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and blocking the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet. 9 . The battery pack according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit is further configured to open the fluid valve in response to the pressure gauge not detecting the occurrence of the event, and to close the fluid valve in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of the event.

10. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of the event, the control unit is further configured to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level higher than a third level, the third level being the fluid level of the cooling fluid under a normal operating state.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, further comprising a cover, the cover comprising an additional outlet at a fifth level higher than the battery cell, the additional outlet being configured to discharge exhaust gas from an exhaust port at an upper position of at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells, Wherein the control unit is further configured to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to the fourth level equal to the fifth level in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of the event. 12 . The battery pack according to claim 11 , wherein in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of the event, the cooling fluid whose fluid level has increased to the fourth level flows through the additional outlet under the control of the control unit. 13 . The battery pack according to claim 10 , wherein in a normal state in which the pressure gauge does not detect occurrence of an event, the third level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodation space is higher than or equal to the second level at which the outlet is located.

14. A battery device comprising: The battery pack according to claim 1; as well as a cooling fluid circuit connected between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the cooling fluid circuit comprises: a fluid pump connected to the inlet, the fluid pump configured to generate an inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet; a fluid valve connected to the outlet, the fluid valve being configured to open or close or vary the degree of opening to control the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet; a heat exchanger connected between the fluid pump and the fluid valve, the heat exchanger being configured to cool the cooling fluid that becomes a high-temperature state when passing through the accommodation space in which the plurality of battery cells are accommodated; and A fluid tank is configured to store the cooling fluid downstream of the heat exchanger.

15. The battery device according to claim 14, wherein the control unit is further configured to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid filling the accommodating space by controlling at least one of the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of an event in which exhaust gas is discharged from at least one of the plurality of battery cells.

16. The battery device according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is further configured to control at least one of the fluid pump and the fluid valve to i) increase the output of the fluid pump, ii) reduce the opening degree of the fluid valve, or iii) close the fluid valve.

17. The battery device according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is further configured to control both the fluid pump and the fluid valve to increase the inflow rate of the cooling fluid through the inlet and reduce the outflow rate of the cooling fluid through the outlet, thereby accelerating the increase of the fluid level of the cooling fluid.

18. The battery device according to claim 16, wherein the control unit is further configured to increase the output of the fluid pump at the inlet and close the fluid valve at the outlet, thereby increasing the inflow rate of the cooling fluid at the inlet and blocking the outflow rate of the cooling fluid at the outlet.

19. The battery device according to claim 15, wherein in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of the event, the control unit is further configured to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to a fourth level higher than a third level, the third level being the fluid level of the cooling fluid in a normal operating state.

20. The battery device according to claim 19, further comprising a cover, the cover comprising an additional outlet, the additional outlet being at a fifth level higher than the battery cells and configured to discharge the exhaust gas from an exhaust port at an upper position of at least one battery cell among the plurality of battery cells, Wherein the control unit is further configured to increase the fluid level of the cooling fluid to the fourth level equal to the fifth level in response to the pressure gauge detecting the occurrence of the event.

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