Battery pack

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a battery pack in which, when an explosion or degradation occurs in any one of a plurality of battery cells, heat can be dispersed to not only adjacent battery cells, but also other battery cells connected to the battery cell in which the event occurs, by a heat dispersion member. And the thermal runaway can also be dispersed to other battery monomers to prevent continuous thermal runaway, so that the safety is improved. As an example, the present disclosure provides a battery pack including: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of heat dissipation members including cell contact portions interposed between the plurality of battery cells, where each of the plurality of heat dissipation members includes two cell contact portions interposed between the plurality of battery cells and a connection portion configured to connect the two cell contact portions, and two battery cells are interposed between the two cell contact portions.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the priority and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2024 - 0008740, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on January 19, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a battery pack. Background Art

[0004] Generally, unlike primary batteries that cannot be recharged, secondary batteries are batteries that can be charged and discharged. Secondary batteries are used as energy sources for mobile devices, electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, electric bicycles, and uninterruptible power supplies. Depending on the type of external device to which the secondary battery is applied, the secondary battery is used in the form of a single battery or in the form of a group in which multiple batteries are connected and bundled into a single unit.

[0005] Small mobile devices such as mobile phones can operate for a certain period of time using the output power and capacity of a single battery. However, in cases such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles that consume high power and require long - term or high - power operation, due to output power and capacity issues, a group form including multiple batteries is preferred. The output voltage or output current can increase according to the increase in the number of built - in batteries.

[0006] The above information disclosed in this background art section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background of the present disclosure and may therefore include information that does not constitute related art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present disclosure provides a battery pack that, when an explosion or deterioration occurs in any one of a plurality of battery cells, allows heat to be dissipated to other battery cells connected to the battery cell in which the event occurs through a heat dissipation member. The heat can be dissipated not only to adjacent battery cells but also to other battery cells to prevent continuous thermal runaway, thereby improving safety.

[0008] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of heat dissipation members including cell contact portions interposed between the plurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality of heat dissipation members includes two cell contact portions interposed between the plurality of battery cells and a connection portion configured to connect the two cell contact portions, and two battery cells are interposed between the two cell contact portions.

[0009] The plurality of heat dissipation members may be sequentially arranged in the first direction, and may include odd-numbered heat dissipation members and even-numbered heat dissipation members, and the single-body contact portions of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members may be interposed between the single-body contact portions of the even-numbered heat dissipation members.

[0010] One battery cell may be interposed between the single-body contact portion of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member and the single-body contact portion of the even-numbered heat dissipation member.

[0011] The single-body contact portions of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members and the single-body contact portions of the even-numbered heat dissipation members may be alternately interposed between the plurality of battery cells.

[0012] The connection portion may cover one surface of each of the two battery cells.

[0013] The connection portion of the heat dissipation member may cover the short side surfaces of the two battery cells.

[0014] The connection portion of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member may cover the first short side surface of the two battery cells, and the connection portion of the even-numbered heat dissipation member may cover the second short side surface of the two battery cells, where the second short side surface is a surface opposite to the first short side surface.

[0015] The height, which is the length in the third direction, of the connection portion of the heat dissipation member may be equal to the height of the single-body contact portion, and the third direction intersects with the first direction.

[0016] The connection portion of the heat dissipation member may cover the bottom surface of the battery cell.

[0017] In a plan view, the connection portion of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member may not overlap with the connection portion of the even-numbered heat dissipation member.

[0018] The width, which is the length in the second direction, of the connection portion of the heat dissipation member may be less than the width of the single-body contact portion, and the second direction intersects with the first direction.

[0019] Twice the width, which is the length in the second direction, of the connection portion of the heat dissipation member may be less than the width of the single-body contact portion, and the second direction intersects with the first direction.

[0020] The heat dissipation member may be a single-layer plate made of any one of a metal having a high thermal conductivity, graphene, and graphite carbon sheet.

[0021] The single-cell contact portion of the heat dissipation member may extend in a second direction that is the width direction of the battery cell, the connection portion may extend in the first direction, and a bending portion may be provided between the single-cell contact portion and the connection portion.

[0022] The single-cell contact portion may include a first layer made of a metal, graphene, or graphite carbon sheet having a high thermal conductivity, and a second layer made of a thermal insulator having a low thermal conductivity and covering at least one surface of the first layer.

[0023] The second layer may cover one surface, two surfaces, or all surfaces of the first layer.

[0024] The first layer may cover two surfaces or all surfaces of the second layer.

[0025] The battery pack may further include: end plates located at each of the two ends in the first direction in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged; and side plates extending in the first direction along each of the two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and coupled to the end plates to fix the plurality of battery cells.

[0026] The battery pack may further include an insulating plate between the end plate and the battery cell, and the single-cell contact portion of the outermost heat dissipation member may be between the insulating plate and the end plate.

[0027] The battery pack may further include a cooling plate coupled to the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells.

[0028] The side plate may include an upper side plate adjacent to and coupled to the top surface of the plurality of battery cells and a lower side plate adjacent to and coupled to the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells.

[0029] The battery pack may further include side cooling plates extending in the first direction to face each of the two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the side cooling plates are located between the upper side plate and the lower side plate.

[0030] The side cooling plates may be coupled to the connection portion of the heat dissipation member and the short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells.

[0031] The plurality of battery cells may be arranged in the first direction such that their long side surfaces face each other.

[0032] The single-cell contact portion may cover more than 50% to less than 100% of the long side surface of the battery cell. Description of the Drawings

[0033] Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of

[0035] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A’ of Figure 1 of

[0036] Figure 4 is an illustration of Figure 1 an example of a contact area between a long side surface of a battery cell and a cell contact portion of a heat dissipation member in the battery pack of

[0037] Figure 5A and Figure 5B is Figure 1 a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an example of the heat dissipation member of

[0038] Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to the present disclosure.

[0039] Figures 7A to 7D is a perspective view and a partial perspective view illustrating a battery pack according to the present disclosure and a schematic view illustrating an example of a contact area between a long side surface of a battery cell and a cell contact portion of a heat dissipation member. Detailed Description

[0040] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] Embodiments of the present disclosure are provided to more fully describe the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. The following embodiments may be modified in many different forms, and the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so that the present disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0042] In addition, for convenience and clarity of description, the thickness and dimensions of each layer are enlarged in the drawings, and the same reference numerals in the drawings always refer to the same elements. As used in this specification, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Further, in this specification, it will be understood that when element A is referred to as "connected to" element B, element A can be directly connected to element B, or there may be an intervening element C between element A and element B such that element A can be indirectly connected to element B.

[0043] The terms used in this specification are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well. Further, the terms "comprising" and / or "including" used in this specification shall be construed to specify the presence of the described shapes, quantities, steps, operations, components, elements, and / or groups thereof, and shall not preclude the presence or addition of other shapes, quantities, steps, operations, components, elements, and / or groups thereof.

[0044] It will be understood that although the terms "first", "second", etc. may be used herein to describe various components, parts, regions, layers, and / or sections, these components, parts, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component, part, region, layer, or section from another. Thus, without departing from the teachings of the disclosure, the first component, part, region, layer, or section described below may also be referred to as the second component, part, region, layer, or section.

[0045] To facilitate understanding of one element or feature illustrated in the drawings in relation to other elements or features, spatial relative terms such as "beneath", "below", "under", "above", "on", etc. may be used herein. These spatial relative terms are intended to facilitate understanding of the disclosure in accordance with various process states or usage states of the disclosure, and thus the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, when an element or feature in the drawings is flipped, the element or feature described as "beneath" or "below" becomes "above" or "on". Thus, the term "below" may encompass the terms "above" or "below".

[0046] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to the disclosure. Figure 2 is Figure 1 an exploded perspective view of the battery pack. Figure 3 is along Figure 1 a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' of. Hereinafter, the battery pack 100 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 this.

[0047] As Figures 1 to 3As shown, the battery pack 100 may include a plurality of battery cells 110 arranged in a first direction x and a heat dissipation member 120 for dissipating heat generated from one of the plurality of battery cells 110 to other battery cells 110 except adjacent battery cells 110. Here, the first direction x may be the direction in which the plurality of battery cells 110 are arranged. In addition, the battery pack 100 may further include a bus bar 130 electrically connecting adjacent battery cells 110 and side plates 140 and end plates 150 for fixing and connecting the plurality of battery cells 110. In addition, the battery pack 100 may further include a cooling plate 160 for cooling the plurality of battery cells 110.

[0048] First, each of the plurality of battery cells 110 may include a top surface 111 on which electrode terminals 115 are provided, a bottom surface 112 opposite to the top surface 111, and side surfaces 113, 114 connecting the top surface 111 and the bottom surface 112. Here, the side surfaces 113, 114 may include two long side surfaces 113 connecting the long sides of the top surface 111 having a rectangular shape and the long sides of the bottom surface 112 having a rectangular shape, and two short side surfaces 114 connecting the short sides of the top surface 111 and the short sides of the bottom surface 112. The two short side surfaces 114 may connect both ends of the two long side surfaces 113. The battery cell 110 may have a substantially hexahedral shape. The electrode terminals 115 of the battery cell 110 may include a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal, and the two terminals may be provided symmetrically with respect to the center of the top surface 111.

[0049] The plurality of battery cells 110 may be arranged in the first direction x. Among the plurality of battery cells 110, the long side surfaces 113 between adjacent battery cells 110 may be arranged to face each other. Here, in the battery pack 100, the top surfaces 111, bottom surfaces 112, and short side surfaces 114 of the plurality of battery cells 110 may form the same surface in the first direction x. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 In, in the battery pack 100, 15 battery cells 110, such as a first battery cell C1, a second battery cell C2,..., and a fifteenth battery cell C15, are illustrated as being arranged in the first direction x, but the number of battery cells 110 is not limited in the present disclosure. However, for ease of description, the description will be provided based on a plurality of battery cells 110 including 15 battery cells C1, C2,..., and C15.

[0050] Referring to Figure 5A, the heat dissipation member 120 may include two single-body contact portions 121 having a flat plate shape and facing each other, and a connecting portion 122 connecting one side of the two single-body contact portions 121. Here, the single-body contact portion 121 may extend in a second direction y perpendicular to the first direction x and parallel to the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110. Here, the second direction y may be the width direction of the battery cell 110. The heat dissipation member 120 may include a bent portion (not shown) between the single-body contact portion 121 and the connecting portion 122. Here, the bent portion may be a portion bent substantially vertically. The single-body contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 120 may be in contact with the long side surface 113 or the end plate 150 of the battery cell 110. Refer to Figure 4 , an example of a contact surface of the single-body contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 120 in contact with the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110 is shown. The single-body contact portion 121 may be in contact with substantially the center of the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110. The length of the single-body contact portion 121 in the second direction y may be less than or equal to the length of the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110 in the second direction y. In addition, the height (length in the third direction z) of the single-body contact portion 121 may be less than or equal to the height (length in the third direction z) of the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110. Here, the third direction z may be the height direction of the battery cell 110. The single-body contact portion 121 may cover more than approximately 50% to less than 100% of the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110. When the single-body contact portion 121 covers less than 50% of the long side surface 113 of the battery cell 110, the area through which heat is transferred to adjacent battery cells increases, which may make it difficult to prevent heat dissipation. In addition, the single-body contact portion 121 located at each end of the battery cell 110 of the heat dissipation member 120 may be in contact with the end plate 150, and the single-body contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 120 may be provided to cover more than 50% of the end plate 150.

[0051] In addition, the connecting portion 122 may connect the single-body contact portions 121 and may extend in the first direction x. The connecting portion 122 may cover the short side surface 114 of the battery cell 110. The single-body contact portion 121 and the connecting portion 122 are integral and may have a flat plate bent shape. The height of the single-body contact portion 121 in the third direction z and the height of the connecting portion 122 in the third direction z may be equal. Here, the third direction z may be the height direction.

[0052] The heat dissipation member 120 may have a substantially Shape. The heat dissipation member 120 may be coupled in the second direction y to cover one short side surface 114 or the other short side surface 114 of the battery cell 110. Two battery cells 110 may be interposed between two cell contact portions 121 of the heat dissipation member 120. In this case, the connection portion 122 may cover the short side surfaces 114 of the two battery cells 110. Further, when the connection portion 122 of the heat dissipation member 120 covers one short side surface 114 of the battery cell 110, the connection portion 122 of the adjacent heat dissipation member 120 may cover the other short side surface 114 opposite to the one short side surface 114 of the battery cell 110. The heat dissipation member 120 may be a single-layer plate made of any one of a metal, graphene, and graphite carbon sheet having a high thermal conductivity. When the heat dissipation member 120 is made of graphene or graphite carbon sheet, the thermal conductivity of the heat dissipation member 120 in the longitudinal direction may be higher than the thermal conductivity of the heat dissipation member 120 in the thickness direction. That is, the heat dissipation member 120 may be formed such that heat transfer in the extending direction (i.e., the longitudinal direction) of the heat dissipation member 120 is higher than heat transfer in the thickness direction.

[0053] As Figure 5A shown, the heat dissipation member 120 may be provided as multiple layers. Refer to Figure 5B , Figure 5B which Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of the heat dissipation member 120 shown in

[0054] As Figure 5A and Figure 5B shown, the cell contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 120 may be provided as multiple layers. The cell contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 120 may include a first layer 121x made of a metal, graphene, or graphite carbon sheet having a high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation, and a second layer 121y made of a thermal insulator having a low thermal conductivity and covering at least one surface of the first layer 121x. The second layer 121y may be a thermal insulating material that partially blocks heat transfer in the thickness direction. In this case, the connection portion 122 may be made of the same material as the material of the first layer 121x having a high thermal conductivity. Further, although the second layer 121y is shown in Figure 5B as having a structure surrounding the entire surface of the first layer 121x, the second layer 121y may be formed on two flat surfaces or only on one flat surface or cover two flat surfaces or only one flat surface. Due to the second layer 121y made of such a thermal insulator, the cell contact portion 121 may reduce heat transfer between adjacent battery cells 110. Further, the heat reduced by the second layer 121y may be transferred to other non-adjacent battery cells through the first layer 121x and the connection portion 122.

[0055] As another example, the first layer 121x of the heat dissipation member 120 may be made of a heat insulating material, and the second layer 121y may be made of a metal, graphene, or graphite carbon sheet having a high thermal conductivity. The second layer 121y may cover two surfaces or all surfaces of the first layer 121x. The heat dissipation member 120 can more effectively block heat transfer to the adjacent battery cells 110, and make heat transfer to the non-adjacent battery cells easier through the heat dissipation member 120. In this case, the connecting portion 122 may be made of the same material as the material of the second layer 121y having a high thermal conductivity.

[0056] The relationship between the plurality of heat dissipation members 120 and the plurality of battery cells 110 will be described in detail below.

[0057] The bus bar 130 may electrically connect the electrode terminals 115 of the adjacent battery cells 110 in the battery cells 110 in series or in parallel. The plurality of bus bars 130 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction x. The bus bar 130 may electrically connect the adjacent battery cells 110 to each other.

[0058] The side plates 140 may extend in the first direction x along the two short side surfaces 114 of the plurality of battery cells 110. The side plates 140 may be positioned symmetrically with respect to each other on the two short side surfaces 114 of the battery cells 110. The side plates 140 may be located at both ends in the second direction y with respect to the battery cells 110. The side plates 140 may be coupled to the end plates 150 located at both ends in the first direction x where the plurality of battery cells 110 are arranged, so as to fix and connect the plurality of battery cells 110 and the plurality of heat dissipation members 120. The side plates 140 may surround the outside of the plurality of battery cells 110 together with the end plates 150, thereby physically combining the plurality of battery cells 110. The inner surface of the side plates 140 may contact the short side surfaces 114 of the plurality of battery cells 110.

[0059] The side plates 140 may include an upper side plate 141 that is adjacently coupled to the top surface 111 of the plurality of battery cells 110 and a lower side plate 142 that is adjacently coupled to the bottom surface 112 of the plurality of battery cells 110. The connecting portion 122 of the heat dissipation member 120 may be located between the upper side plate 141 and the lower side plate 142.

[0060] The end plates 150 may be located at both ends of the plurality of battery cells 110 arranged in the first direction x in the first direction x. The inner surfaces of each of the end plates 150 may face one of the long side surfaces of the battery cells 110 located at both ends in the first direction x. For example, each of the end plates 150 may face one of the long side surfaces of the first battery cell C1 and one of the long side surfaces of the fifteenth battery cell C15. The end plates 150 may further include insulating plates 151. Here, the insulating plates 151 may be interposed between the end plates 150 and the battery cells 110. For example, the insulating plate 151 may be interposed between the end plate 150 and the first battery cell C1 which is the first cell among the plurality of battery cells 110 arranged in the first direction x, and may be interposed between the end plate 150 and the fifteenth battery cell C15 which is the last cell. The insulating plate 151 may be made of a material that electrically insulates the end plate 150 from the battery cell 110. In addition, the insulating plate 151 may be made of a material that can prevent heat transfer between the end plate 150 and the battery cell 110 and absorb shock. For example, the insulating plate 151 may be made of an insulating material selected from polyimide, polyetherimide, polycarbonate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene terephthalate, and their equivalents.

[0061] The cooling plate 160 may extend in the first direction x to cover the bottom surfaces 112 of the plurality of battery cells 110. The cooling plate 160 may be made of an aluminum alloy plate having a high thermal conductivity to transfer the heat generated in the battery cells 110 to the outside. The inner surface of the cooling plate 160 may face the bottom surfaces 112 of the plurality of battery cells 110, and its outer surface may be further provided with protrusions to improve the cooling performance and rigidity. The thermal interface material (TIM) 161 may be further interposed between the cooling plate 160 and the bottom surfaces 112 of the battery cells 110. Here, the TIM 161 may be interposed between the battery cell 110 and the cooling plate 160 to improve the heat transfer performance, so that the heat generated in the battery cell 110 can be more easily transferred.

[0062] Figure 4 is an illustration Figure 1 of an example of the contact area between the long side surface of a battery cell in a battery pack and the monomer contact portion of a heat dissipation member. Hereinafter, reference will be made to Figures 1 to 4 describe the heat transfer characteristics of the heat dissipation member 120 for preventing thermal runaway between the plurality of battery cells 110.

[0063] First, among a plurality of battery cells 110, the first battery cell C1, the second battery cell C2, …, and the fifteenth battery cell C15 may be sequentially arranged in a first direction x. In addition, the end plates 150 may include a first end plate 150a facing the first battery cell C1 and a second end plate 150b facing the fifteenth battery cell C15. Here, one long side surface of the first battery cell C1 may face the inner surface of the first end plate 150a, and its other long side surface may face the second battery cell C2. In addition, a first insulating plate 151a may be interposed between the inner surface of the first end plate 150a and one long side surface of the first battery cell C1. Of course, one long side surface of the fifteenth battery cell C15 may face the fourteenth battery cell C14, and its other long side surface may face the inner surface of the second end plate 150b. In addition, a second insulating plate 151b may be interposed between the inner surface of the second end plate 150b and the other long side surface of the fifteenth battery cell C15.

[0064] A plurality of heat dissipation members 120 may be interposed between the plurality of battery cells 110. Among the heat dissipation members 120, the first heat dissipation member H1, the second heat dissipation member H2, …, and the eighth heat dissipation member H8 may be sequentially arranged in the first direction x. Each heat dissipation member 120 may include two single-cell contact portions 121 and one connecting portion 122. Additionally, two battery cells 110 may be interposed between the two single-cell contact portions 121. In addition, the connecting portion 122 may cover the short side surface 114 of the battery cell 110 interposed between the two single-cell contact portions 121.

[0065] Among the plurality of heat dissipation members 120, each of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members may be coupled to the first short side surface of the battery cell 110 such that the connecting portion 122 may cover the first short side surface, and each of the even-numbered heat dissipation members may be coupled to the second short side surface such that the connecting portion 122 may cover the second short side surface. According to an embodiment, the second short side surface may be a surface opposite to the first short side surface.

[0066] For example, the first heat dissipation member H1, the third heat dissipation member H3, …, and the seventh heat dissipation member H7, which are odd-numbered heat dissipation members, may be coupled between the battery cells 110 in the -y direction opposite to the second direction y. In addition, the second heat dissipation member H2, the fourth heat dissipation member H4, …, and the eighth heat dissipation member H8, which are even-numbered heat dissipation members, may be coupled between the battery cells 110 in the second direction y.

[0067] When the single contact portion 121 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member contacts one short side surface of the selected battery cell 110, the single contact portion 121 of the even-numbered heat dissipation member may contact the other long side surface thereof. In addition, when the single contact portion 121 of the even-numbered heat dissipation member contacts one long side surface of the battery cell 110 adjacent to the selected battery cell 110, the single contact portion 121 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member may contact the other long side surface thereof.

[0068] In addition, the single contact portions 121 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members may be respectively located between two single contact portions 121 of the adjacent even-numbered heat dissipation members. Of course, the single contact portions 121 of the even-numbered heat dissipation members may be respectively located between the single contact portions 121 of the adjacent odd-numbered heat dissipation members. That is to say, the single contact portions 121 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members and the single contact portions 121 of the even-numbered heat dissipation members may be alternately interposed between a plurality of battery cells 110.

[0069] In addition, one battery cell 110 may be interposed between the single contact portion 121 of the even-numbered heat dissipation member and the single contact portion 121 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member. Of course, among the odd-numbered heat dissipation members, one single contact portion 121 of the first heat dissipation member H1 may be the single contact portion located at the end, and may be interposed between the first end plate 150a and the first battery cell C1. In addition, the other single contact portion 121 located at the end of the eighth heat dissipation member H8 among the even-numbered heat dissipation members may be interposed between the second end plate 150b and the fifteenth battery C15.

[0070] More specifically, hereinafter, the relationship between the single contact portions 121 and the connection portions 122 of each of the plurality of heat dissipation members 120 and the positions of the plurality of battery cells 110 will be described.

[0071] One single - cell contact portion H1_121a of the first heat - dissipation member H1 can be interposed between the first end - plate 150a and the first insulating plate 151a, and its other single - cell contact portion H1_121b can be interposed between the second battery cell C2 and the third battery cell C3. In addition, the connecting portion H1_122 of the first heat - dissipation member H1 can cover the side surface of the first insulating plate 151a, the first short - side surface of the first battery cell C1, and the first short - side surface of the second battery cell C2. Here, one single - cell contact portion H1_121a can be in close contact with the first end - plate 150a and the first insulating plate 151a, and the other single - cell contact portion H1_121b can be in close contact with the other long - side surface of the second battery cell C2 and one long - side surface of the third battery cell C3. When thermal runaway occurs in the second battery cell C2 or the third battery cell C3, the first heat - dissipation member H1 can transfer the heat generated in the second battery cell C2 or the third battery cell C3 to the first end - plate 150a.

[0072] One single - cell contact portion H2_121a of the second heat - dissipation member H2 can be interposed between the first battery cell C1 and the second battery cell C2, and its other single - cell contact portion H2_121b can be interposed between the third battery cell C3 and the fourth battery cell C4. In addition, the connecting portion H2_122 of the second heat - dissipation member H2 can cover the second short - side surface of the second battery cell C2 and the second short - side surface of the third battery cell C3. Here, one single - cell contact portion H2_121a can be in close contact with the other long - side surface of the first battery cell C1 and one long - side surface of the second battery cell C2, and the other single - cell contact portion H2_121b can be in close contact with the other long - side surface of the third battery cell C3 and one long - side surface of the fourth battery cell C4. When an event such as explosion or degradation occurs in the first battery cell C1 or the second battery cell C2, the second heat - dissipation member H2 can transfer the heat generated in the first battery cell C1 or the second battery cell C2 to the third battery cell C3 and the fourth battery cell C4. In addition, when an event occurs in the third battery cell C3 or the fourth battery cell C4, the second heat - dissipation member H2 can transfer the heat generated in the third battery cell C3 or the fourth battery cell C4 to the first battery cell C1 and the second battery cell C2.

[0073] One single - cell contact portion H3_121a of the third heat - dissipation member H3 can be interposed between the fourth battery cell C4 and the fifth battery cell C5, and its other single - cell contact portion H3_121b can be interposed between the sixth battery cell C6 and the seventh battery cell C7. The connecting portion H3_122 of the third heat - dissipation member H3 can cover the first short - side surface of the fifth battery cell C5 and the first short - side surface of the sixth battery cell C6.

[0074] In addition, one monomer contact portion H4_121a of the fourth heat dissipation member H4 may be interposed between the fifth battery cell C5 and the sixth battery cell C6, and its other monomer contact portion H4_121b may be interposed between the seventh battery cell C7 and the eighth battery cell C8. The connection portion H4_122 of the fourth heat dissipation member H4 may cover the second short side surface of the sixth battery cell C6 and the second short side surface of the seventh battery cell C7.

[0075] For example, when an event occurs in the fourth battery cell C4, heat can be transferred to the first battery cell C1 and the second battery cell C2 through the second heat dissipation member H2, and heat can be transferred to the sixth battery cell C6 and the seventh battery cell C7 through the third heat dissipation member H3. That is to say, when an explosion occurs in the fourth battery cell C4, the heat is not completely transferred to the third battery cell C3 and the fifth battery cell C5 which are adjacent to the fourth battery cell C4. Instead, the heat can be transferred to the first battery cell C1, the second battery cell C2, the sixth battery cell C6, and the seventh battery cell C7 which are not adjacent to the fourth battery cell C4 through the second heat dissipation member H2 and the third heat dissipation member H3, so as to disperse the heat to prevent continuous thermal runaway and thermal diffusion.

[0076] One monomer contact portion H5_121a of the fifth heat dissipation member H5 may be interposed between the eighth battery cell C8 and the ninth battery cell C9, and its other monomer contact portion H5_121b may be interposed between the tenth battery cell C10 and the eleventh battery cell C11. The connection portion H5_122 of the fifth heat dissipation member H5 may cover the first short side surface of the ninth battery cell C9 and the first short side surface of the tenth battery cell C10.

[0077] In addition, one monomer contact portion H6_121a of the sixth heat dissipation member H6 may be interposed between the ninth battery cell C9 and the tenth battery cell C10, and its other monomer contact portion H6_121b may be interposed between the eleventh battery cell C11 and the twelfth battery cell C12. The connection portion H6_122 of the sixth heat dissipation member H6 may cover the second short side surface of the tenth battery cell C10 and the second short side surface of the eleventh battery cell C11.

[0078] One monomer contact portion H7_121a of the seventh heat dissipation member H7 may be interposed between the twelfth battery cell C12 and the thirteenth battery cell C13, and its other monomer contact portion H7_121b may be interposed between the fourteenth battery cell C14 and the fifteenth battery cell C15. The connection portion H7_122 of the seventh heat dissipation member H7 may cover the first short side surface of the thirteenth battery cell C13 and the first short side surface of the fourteenth battery cell C14.

[0079] In addition, one single-body contact portion H8_121a of the eighth heat dissipation member H8 may be interposed between the thirteenth battery cell C13 and the fourteenth battery cell C14, and its other single-body contact portion H18_121b may be interposed between the second insulating plate 151b and the second end plate 150b. The connection portion H8_122 of the eighth heat dissipation member H8 may cover the second short-side surface of the fourteenth battery cell C14, the second short-side surface of the fifteenth battery cell C15, and the side surface of the second insulating plate 151b.

[0080] In this way, in the battery pack 100, when an explosion or deterioration occurs in any one of the plurality of battery cells 110, since heat can be dissipated to other battery cells connected to the battery cell in which the event has occurred through the heat dissipation member 120, the heat can be dissipated not only to adjacent battery cells but also to other battery cells to prevent continuous thermal runaway, thereby improving safety. Here, adjacent battery cells are battery cells whose long-side surfaces face each other. For example, the adjacent battery cells of the third battery cell C3 may be the second battery cell C2 facing one long-side surface of the third battery cell C3 and the fourth battery cell C4 facing the other long-side surface of the third battery cell C3.

[0081] Reference Figure 6 , Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating a battery pack 200 according to the present disclosure. The battery pack 200 may include a plurality of battery cells 110, a heat dissipation member 120, a bus bar 130, side plates 140, end plates 150, a cooling plate 160, and side cooling plates 260. The plurality of battery cells 110, the heat dissipation member 120, the bus bar 130, the side plates 140, the end plates 150, and the cooling plate 160 of the battery pack 200 may be structurally similar to those of the battery pack 100 shown in Figures 1 to 3 However, the battery pack 200 may further include side cooling plates 260.

[0082] Hereinafter, the side cooling plate 260 of the battery pack 200 that does not exist in the battery pack 100 will be mainly described. The side cooling plates 260 may be further provided on two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 110. Each side cooling plate 260 may extend in the first direction x to face one of the two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 110. The side cooling plates 260 may face each of the two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells 110 and the connection portion 122 of the heat dissipation member 120. Of course, the TIM may be further interposed between the side cooling plate 260 and the battery cell 110 and between the side cooling plate 260 and the connection portion 122 of the heat dissipation member 120. The TIM may be similar to the TIM 161 of the battery pack 100. In addition, the side cooling plate 260 may be located between the upper side plate 141 and the lower side plate 142 of the side plate 140. The side cooling plate 260 may reduce the heat transferred through the heat dissipation member 120, or may more easily transfer the heat generated in the battery cell 110.

[0083] Figure 7A is a perspective view illustrating a battery pack 300 according to the present disclosure. Figure 7B is an illustration of being coupled to Figure 7A the heat dissipation member 320 of the battery cell 110 in Figure 7C An example of a contact surface of an odd-numbered heat dissipation member 320 in contact with a long side surface of a battery cell 110 is illustrated. Figure 7D An example of a contact surface of an even-numbered heat dissipation member 320 in contact with a long side surface of a battery cell 110 is illustrated.

[0084] The battery pack 300 may include a plurality of battery cells 110, a heat dissipation member 320, a bus bar 130, a side plate 140, an end plate 150, a cooling plate 160, and a side cooling plate 260. The plurality of battery cells 110, the bus bar 130, the side plate 140, the end plate 150, and the cooling plate 160 of the battery pack 300 may be structurally similar to those of the battery pack 100 shown in Figures 1 to 3 . In addition, the single-cell contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 320 of the battery pack 300 may be structurally similar to the single-cell contact portion 121 of the heat dissipation member 120 of the battery pack 100. However, the position of the connection portion 322 of the heat dissipation member 320 of the battery pack 300 may be different from the position of the connection portion 122 of the heat dissipation member 120 of the battery pack 100.

[0085] In the following, a connection portion 322 of the heat dissipation member 320 in the battery pack 300, which is different from the connection portion of the battery pack 100, will be mainly described. The connection portion 322 of the heat dissipation member 320 may cover the bottom surface 112 of the battery cell 110. Here, the connection portions 322 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members H1, H3, H5, and H7 may connect to one side portion of the bottom side of the cell contact portion 121 in the second direction y, and the connection portions 322 of the even-numbered heat dissipation members H2, H4, H6, and H8 may connect to the other side portion of the bottom side of the cell contact portion 121 in the second direction y. The connection portions 322 of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members H1, H3, H5, and H7 may not overlap with the connection portions 322 of the even-numbered heat dissipation members H2, H4, H6, and H8 in a plan view.

[0086] The width of the cell contact portion 121 (as the length in the second direction y) may be greater than the width of the connection portion 322 (as the length in the second direction y). More preferably, the width of the cell contact portion 121 may be greater than twice the width of the connection portion 322.

[0087] In addition, a specific lower region of the cell contact portion 121 connected to the connection portion 322 may have the same width as the width of the connection portion 322. That is, the width of the lower region of the cell contact portion 121 may be smaller than the width of other regions, and the width of this lower region may be the same as the width of the connection portion 322.

[0088] The connection portion 322 of the heat dissipation member 320 may be interposed between the cooling plate 160 and the bottom surface 112 of the battery cell 110. Here, the cooling plate 160 can not only reduce the heat transferred from the battery cell 110, but also reduce the heat transferred through the heat dissipation member 320.

[0089] In a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when an event such as an explosion or deterioration occurs in any one of a plurality of battery cells, since heat can be dissipated to other battery cells connected to the battery cell in which the event occurs through the heat dissipation member, the heat can be dissipated not only to adjacent battery cells but also to other battery cells to prevent continuous thermal runaway, thereby improving safety.

[0090] The above embodiments are only for implementing the embodiments of the battery pack according to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. Without departing from the gist of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims, any ordinary technician in the field to which the present disclosure pertains can make various modifications.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction; and a plurality of heat dissipation members including cell contact portions interposed between the plurality of battery cells, wherein each of the plurality of heat dissipation members includes two cell contact portions interposed between the plurality of battery cells and a connection portion configured to connect the two cell contact portions, and two battery cells are interposed between the two cell contact portions.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heat dissipation members are arranged sequentially in the first direction and include odd-numbered heat dissipation members and even-numbered heat dissipation members, and the cell contact portions of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members are interposed between the cell contact portions of the even-numbered heat dissipation members.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein one battery cell is interposed between the cell contact portion of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member and the cell contact portion of the even-numbered heat dissipation member.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the cell contact portions of the odd-numbered heat dissipation members and the cell contact portions of the even-numbered heat dissipation members are alternately interposed between the plurality of battery cells.

5. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the connection portion covers one surface of each of the two battery cells.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the connection portion of the heat dissipation member covers the short side surfaces of the two battery cells.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the connection portion of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member covers the first short side surfaces of the two battery cells, and the connection portion of the even-numbered heat dissipation member covers the second short side surfaces of the two battery cells, the second short side surfaces being surfaces opposite to the first short side surfaces.

8. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein a height of the connection portion of the heat dissipation member as a length in a third direction that intersects the first direction is equal to a height of the cell contact portion.

9. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the connection portion of the heat dissipation member covers the bottom surfaces of the battery cells.

10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein the connection portion of the odd-numbered heat dissipation member does not overlap with the connection portion of the even-numbered heat dissipation member in a plan view.

11. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein a width of the connection portion of the heat dissipation member as a length in a second direction that intersects the first direction is less than a width of the cell contact portion.

12. The battery pack according to claim 9, wherein twice a width of the connection portion of the heat dissipation member as a length in a second direction that intersects the first direction is less than a width of the cell contact portion.

13. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member is a single-layer plate made of any one of metal, graphene, and graphite carbon sheet.

14. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the single-cell contact portion of the heat dissipation member extends in a second direction which is the width direction of the battery cell, the connection portion extends in the first direction, and a bent portion is provided between the single-cell contact portion and the connection portion.

15. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the single-cell contact portion includes a first layer made of metal, graphene, or graphite carbon sheet and a second layer made of a thermal insulator and covering at least one surface of the first layer.

16. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein the second layer covers one surface, two surfaces, or all surfaces of the first layer.

17. The battery pack according to claim 15, wherein the first layer covers two surfaces or all surfaces of the second layer.

18. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: end plates, each located at each of the two ends in the first direction in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged; and side plates, extending in the first direction along each of the two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells and coupled to the end plates to fix the plurality of battery cells.

19. The battery pack according to claim 18, further comprising an insulating plate between the end plate and the battery cell, and the single-cell contact portion of the outermost heat dissipation member is between the insulating plate and the end plate.

20. The battery pack according to claim 18, further comprising a cooling plate coupled to the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells.

21. The battery pack according to claim 18, wherein the side plates include an upper side plate adjacently coupled to the top surface of the plurality of battery cells and a lower side plate adjacently coupled to the bottom surface of the plurality of battery cells.

22. The battery pack according to claim 21, further comprising side cooling plates extending in the first direction to face each of the two short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells, wherein the side cooling plates are located between the upper side plate and the lower side plate.

23. The battery pack according to claim 22, wherein the side cooling plates are coupled to the connection portion of the heat dissipation member and the short side surfaces of the plurality of battery cells.

24. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells are arranged in the first direction such that their long side surfaces face each other.

25. The battery pack according to claim 24, wherein the single-cell contact portion covers more than 50% to less than 100% of the long side surface of the battery cell.

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