Battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a plurality of battery cells each having a venting portion; and a pack frame accommodating the plurality of battery cells and having an exhaust guide portion at a portion corresponding to the exhaust portions of the battery cells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and a vehicle including the same, and more particularly, to a battery pack having improved thermal safety and a vehicle including the same.

[0002] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0129707 filed in Korea on September 26, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries, which are highly suitable for various products and exhibit excellent electrical properties (such as high energy density), are commonly used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by power supplies. Because they can significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels and do not produce byproducts during energy consumption, secondary batteries have attracted attention as a new energy source that improves energy efficiency and environmental friendliness.

[0004] Currently widely used secondary battery packs include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, etc. The operating voltage of a unit secondary battery cell (i.e., a unit battery cell) is about 2.5V to 4.2V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in series to configure a battery pack. In addition, depending on the charge / discharge capacity required for the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in parallel to configure a battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack can be set differently according to the required output voltage or the required charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] In addition, when a plurality of battery cells are connected in series or in parallel to configure a battery pack, a battery module composed of at least one battery cell is usually configured first, and then a battery pack is configured by using the at least one battery module and adding other components.

[0006] Conventional battery packs include multiple battery cells and a pack frame that houses the battery cells. In conventional battery packs, the multiple battery cells are relatively densely arranged within the pack housing to ensure energy density and capacity. With this structure, if a thermal event occurs in a particular battery cell, such as the discharge of gas or flames due to overheating, there is a relatively serious problem of heat spreading to adjacent, surrounding battery cells if the gas or flame is not quickly vented.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to find a way to prevent heat from propagating to adjacent battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery cell. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Technical issues

[0009] Therefore, the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery pack that can prevent heat from being propagated to adjacent battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery cell, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0010] Furthermore, the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery pack that can simplify a manufacturing process and reduce manufacturing costs, and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0011] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other problems not mentioned herein from the following description.

[0012] Technical Solution

[0013] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery cells having a vent portion; and a battery pack frame configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and having a vent guide portion in an area corresponding to the vent portions of the plurality of battery cells.

[0014] In addition, preferably, the exhaust guide portion may be formed to have a smaller thickness than other portions of the pack frame so as to be broken or melted at a predetermined pressure or temperature or higher.

[0015] In addition, preferably, the exhaust portion may be provided at the bottom of the plurality of battery cells, and the exhaust guide portion may be provided at the bottom of the pack frame.

[0016] In addition, preferably, the exhaust guide portion may have a smaller thickness than a bottom of the pack frame.

[0017] In addition, preferably, the exhaust guide portions may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the plurality of battery cells.

[0018] In addition, preferably, the battery pack frame may be provided as an integral plastic frame.

[0019] In addition, preferably, the exhaust guide portion may be formed integrally with the pack frame.

[0020] Furthermore, preferably, the exhaust guide portion may be provided in a notch shape at the bottom of the pack frame.

[0021] In addition, preferably, the battery pack may further include a plurality of cooling tubes arranged between the plurality of battery cells with a predetermined length and spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, and the battery pack frame may include a plurality of tube supports supporting the plurality of cooling tubes.

[0022] In addition, preferably, the exhaust guide portion may be provided between the plurality of tube supports.

[0023] Furthermore, preferably, the plurality of tube supports may be formed to have a predetermined length along a longitudinal direction of the cooling tube and have a groove shape with a predetermined depth.

[0024] In addition, preferably, the ends of the multiple cooling tubes can be connected to the external cooling lines of the battery pack and have a cooling medium inlet / outlet to supply the cooling medium into the cooling tubes and discharge the cooling medium inside the cooling tubes to the outside, and the ends of the multiple cooling tubes can be exposed to the outside of the battery pack frame.

[0025] In addition, preferably, at least one flange portion may be integrally formed with at least one edge of the pack frame.

[0026] In addition, preferably, the flange portion may be provided in plural, and the plurality of flange portions may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along both edges of the pack frame.

[0027] Furthermore, the present disclosure also provides a vehicle including at least one battery pack according to the aforementioned embodiment.

[0028] Beneficial effects

[0029] According to various embodiments as described above, a battery pack and a vehicle including the same may be provided, which can prevent heat from being propagated to adjacent battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery cell.

[0030] Furthermore, according to the various embodiments as described above, a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery pack that can simplify a manufacturing process and reduce manufacturing costs can be provided.

[0031] In addition, various embodiments of the present disclosure can achieve various other additional effects. The various effects of the present disclosure will be described in detail in each embodiment, or the effects that are easily understood by those skilled in the art will not be repeated here. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, are used to provide further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 3 is a diagram for illustrating a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an internal structure of a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating an upper structure of a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a lower structure of a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 7 is a bottom view illustrating a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating a battery pack frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 9 is a plan view illustrating a battery pack frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 10 is a side view illustrating a battery pack frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack frame of another embodiment of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a main portion of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 13 is a graph for illustrating gas discharge from battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figures 14 to 16 is a diagram for illustrating a process of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 17 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 18 is a graph for illustrating gas discharge from battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Figure 19 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 20 is a diagram for illustrating gas discharge from battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery pack according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 21 is a diagram for illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be interpreted as limited to the general and dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure based on the principle that the inventor is allowed to appropriately define the terms for the best interpretation.

[0053] Therefore, the descriptions presented herein are merely preferred examples for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0054] In addition, in this specification, terms indicating directions such as "up", "down", "left", "right", "front", and "back" may be used, but these terms are only for convenience of explanation. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, these terms may change according to the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0055] Figure 1 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the battery pack 1 may include a plurality of battery cells 100 and a battery pack frame 200 .

[0057] The plurality of battery cells 100 are secondary batteries and may be provided as cylindrical secondary batteries, pouch-shaped secondary batteries, or prismatic secondary batteries. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the plurality of battery cells 100 will be described as being provided as cylindrical secondary batteries.

[0058] The plurality of battery cells 100 may have a vent portion 31 (see Figure 7 The exhaust portion 31 may guide gas or flame generated in an abnormal situation such as overheating to the outside of the battery cell 100. When an abnormal situation occurs in the battery cell 100, gas or flame generated inside the battery cell 100 may escape to the outside of the battery cell 100 through the exhaust portion 31. The exhaust portion 31 will be explained in more detail below.

[0059] The pack frame 200 may accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100. The pack frame 200 may have an exhaust guide portion 230 in an area corresponding to the exhaust portion 31 of the plurality of battery cells 100. The exhaust guide portion 230 may guide gas or flames exiting the exhaust portion 31 to the outside of the pack frame 200.

[0060] In the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when an abnormal situation occurs in the battery cell 100, the gas or flame coming out of the exhaust portion 31 of the battery cell 100 can be discharged more quickly and rapidly to the outside of the battery pack frame 200 through the exhaust guide portion 230 provided at an area corresponding to the exhaust portion 31.

[0061] Therefore, the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can guide the gas or flame generated from the battery cells 100 to be discharged more smoothly and quickly when an abnormal situation occurs, thereby effectively preventing the risk of thermal runaway damage to adjacent battery cells 100 .

[0062] Hereinafter, the battery cell 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0063] Figure 3 is a diagram for illustrating a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an upper structure of a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a lower structure of a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 7 is a bottom view illustrating a battery cell of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] Reference Figures 3 to 7 The battery cell 100 includes an electrode assembly 10, a battery can 20, a cap plate 30, and a first electrode terminal 40. In addition to the above components, the battery cell 100 may further include an insulating gasket 50 and / or an upper current collecting plate 60 and / or an insulating plate 70 and / or a lower current collecting plate 80 and / or a sealing gasket 90.

[0065] The electrode assembly 10 includes a first electrode plate having a first polarity, a second electrode plate having a second polarity, and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The first electrode plate is a positive electrode plate or a negative electrode plate, and the second electrode plate corresponds to an electrode plate having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode plate.

[0066] The electrode assembly 10 may have, for example, a jellyroll shape. That is, the electrode assembly 10 may be manufactured by winding a stack formed by sequentially stacking a first electrode plate, a separator, and a second electrode plate at least once based on a winding center C. In this case, the separator may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the electrode assembly 10 for insulation from the battery can 20.

[0067] The first electrode plate includes a first electrode current collector and a first electrode active material coated on one or both sides of the first electrode current collector. An uncoated portion that is not coated with the first electrode active material is present at one end of the first electrode current collector in the width direction (parallel to the Z axis). The uncoated portion serves as a first electrode tab. The first electrode tab 11 is disposed at an upper portion of the electrode assembly 10 housed in the battery can 20 in the height direction (parallel to the Z axis).

[0068] The second electrode plate includes a second electrode current collector and a second electrode active material coated on one or both sides of the second electrode current collector. An uncoated portion not coated with the second electrode active material is present at the other end of the second electrode current collector in the width direction (parallel to the Z axis). The uncoated portion serves as a second electrode tab 12. The second electrode tab 12 is disposed at the lower portion of the electrode assembly 10 housed in the battery can 20 in the height direction (parallel to the Z axis).

[0069] The battery can 20 is a cylindrical container with an opening formed at the bottom and is made of a conductive metal material. The sides and top of the battery can 20 are integrally formed. The top of the battery can 20 has a substantially flat shape. The battery can 20 accommodates the electrode assembly 10 through the opening formed at the bottom, and also accommodates the electrolyte.

[0070] The battery can 20 is electrically connected to the second electrode tab 12 of the electrode assembly 10. Therefore, the battery can 20 has the same polarity as the second electrode tab 12.

[0071] The battery can 20 may include a press portion 21 and a curling portion 22 formed at its lower end. The press portion 21 is formed below the electrode assembly 10. The press portion 21 is formed by press-fitting the outer peripheral surface of the battery can 20. The press portion 21 prevents the electrode assembly 10 having a size corresponding to the width of the battery can 20 from exiting through the opening formed at the bottom of the battery can 20 and may serve as a support on which the cover plate 30 is placed.

[0072] The beading portion 22 is formed below the beading portion 21. The beading portion 22 has an extended and curved shape to surround a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the cover plate 30 and the lower surface of the cover plate 30 disposed below the beading portion 21.

[0073] The cover plate 30 is a component made of a conductive metal material and covers the opening formed at the bottom of the battery can 20. In other words, the cover plate 30 forms the lower surface of the battery cell 100. The cover plate 30 is placed on the bead portion 21 formed on the battery can 20 and is secured by the crimping portion 22. A sealing gasket 90 may be interposed between the cover plate 30 and the crimping portion 22 of the battery can 20 to ensure the airtightness of the battery can 20.

[0074] The cover plate 30 may also include a vent portion 31 formed to prevent an increase in internal pressure due to gas generated within the battery can 20. The vent portion 31 corresponds to an area of ​​the cover plate 30 that is thinner than the surrounding area. The vent portion 31 is structurally weaker than the surrounding area. Therefore, if an abnormality occurs in the battery cell 100 and the internal pressure increases to a certain level or higher, the vent portion 31 ruptures, allowing the gas generated within the battery can 20 to be discharged.

[0075] Before installing the first electrode terminal 40 and the insulating gasket 50, a hole may be pre-formed in the upper surface of the battery can 20. While not limited to this, the hole may also be formed in other ways. For example, the hole may be formed as the first electrode terminal 40 is inserted, holes with different diameters may be pre-formed, or the upper surface may be grooved or pre-grooved to allow the first electrode terminal 40 to be inserted therein. In other words, the hole may be expanded to the desired size, or a puncture cut may be made to create a small hole, which may then be expanded to the desired size. Furthermore, the hole may, of course, be formed in other ways.

[0076] The battery cell 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a structure in which both the positive and negative terminals are present at the top, making the top structure more complex than the bottom structure. Therefore, a vent portion 31 may be formed on the cover plate 30 forming the lower surface of the battery cell 100, allowing gas generated inside the battery can 20 to be smoothly discharged.

[0077] The exhaust portion 31 may be continuously formed in a circular shape on the cover plate 30. Without being limited thereto, the exhaust portion 31 may be discontinuously formed in a circular shape on the cover plate 30, or may be formed in a straight line or other shapes.

[0078] The first electrode terminal 40 is made of a conductive metal material, passes through the top surface of the battery can 20, and is electrically connected to the first electrode tab 11 of the electrode assembly 10. Therefore, the first electrode terminal 40 has a first polarity. The first electrode terminal 40 is electrically insulated from the battery can 20 having a second polarity.

[0079] The first electrode terminal 40 includes an exposed terminal portion 41 and an inserted terminal portion 42. The exposed terminal portion 41 is exposed to the outside of the battery can 20. The exposed terminal portion 41 is located at the center of the upper surface of the battery can 20. The inserted terminal portion 42 passes through the center of the upper surface of the battery can 20 and is electrically connected to the first electrode tab 11. The inserted terminal portion 42 may be riveted to the inner surface of the battery can 20.

[0080] The upper surface of the battery can 20 and the first electrode terminal 40 have opposite polarities and face the same direction. Moreover, a step may be formed between the first electrode terminal 40 and the upper surface of the battery can 20. Specifically, if the entire upper surface of the battery can 20 has a flat shape or a shape protruding upward from its center, the exposed terminal portion 41 of the first electrode terminal 40 may protrude further upward than the upper surface of the battery can 20. On the contrary, in the case where the upper surface of the battery can 20 has a concave shape downward from its center (i.e., in the direction toward the electrode assembly 10), the upper surface of the battery can 20 may protrude further upward than the exposed terminal portion 41 of the first electrode terminal 40.

[0081] The insulating gasket 50 is interposed between the battery can 20 and the first electrode terminal 40 to prevent the battery can 20 and the first electrode terminal 40 having opposite polarities from contacting each other. As a result, the upper surface of the battery can 20 having a substantially flat shape can serve as the second electrode terminal of the battery cell 100.

[0082] The insulating gasket 50 includes an exposed portion 51 and an inserted portion 52. The exposed portion 51 is located between the exposed terminal portion 41 of the first electrode terminal 40 and the battery can 20. The inserted portion 52 is interposed between the inserted terminal portion 42 of the first electrode terminal 40 and the battery can 20. The insulating gasket 50 may be made of, for example, an insulating resin material.

[0083] When the insulating gasket 50 is made of a resin material, the insulating gasket 50 can be coupled to the battery can 20 and the first electrode terminal 40 by, for example, heat fusion. In this case, the airtightness at the coupling interface between the insulating gasket 50 and the first electrode terminal 40 and the coupling interface between the insulating gasket 50 and the battery can 20 can be enhanced.

[0084] The entire upper surface of the battery can 20 , except for the area occupied by the first electrode terminal 40 and the insulating gasket 50 , corresponds to the second electrode terminal 20 a having an opposite polarity to the first electrode terminal 40 .

[0085] The battery cell 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first electrode terminal 40 having a first polarity and disposed on one side in the longitudinal direction (a direction parallel to the Z-axis), and a second electrode terminal 20 a electrically insulated from the first electrode terminal 40 and having a second polarity. That is, in the battery cell 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the pair of electrode terminals 40 and 20 a are located in the same direction, when electrically connecting multiple battery cells 100, electrical connection components such as a bus bar assembly can be disposed only on one side of the battery cell 100. This can simplify the structure of the battery pack 1 and improve energy density.

[0086] Hereinafter, the battery pack frame 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0087] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing a battery pack frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 9 is a plan view showing a battery pack frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 10 is a side view illustrating a battery pack frame of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0088] Reference Figures 8 to 10 , the battery pack frame 200 may include a frame body 210 and an exhaust guide portion 230 .

[0089] The frame body 210 may have an accommodation space of a predetermined size capable of accommodating the battery cell 100. The exhaust guide portion 230 may be provided on the frame body 210.

[0090] The exhaust guide portion 230 may be formed to have a smaller thickness than other portions of the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200 so as to be broken or melted at a predetermined pressure or temperature or higher. For example, the exhaust guide portion 230 may be provided at the bottom of the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200 in a notch shape.

[0091] In addition, as described above, the exhaust portion 230 is provided at the bottom (-Z axis direction) of the plurality of battery cells 100, and the exhaust guide portion 230 may be provided at the bottom of the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200. Here, the exhaust guide portion 230 may have a smaller thickness than the bottom of the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200.

[0092] The exhaust guide portions 230 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the plurality of battery cells 100. Thus, the exhaust guide portions 230 may cover all the exhaust portions 31 of the battery cells 100.

[0093] The battery pack frame 200 may be provided as an integral plastic frame. The exhaust guide portion 230 may be integrally formed with the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200. That is, the exhaust guide portion 230 may be integrally formed in the frame body 210.

[0094] The exhaust guide portion 230 may be formed to be recessed to a predetermined depth from the bottom of the frame body 210. Thus, the exhaust guide portion 230 may have a predetermined guide space S in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the battery pack frame 200. The guide space S may be formed to face the exhaust portion 31 of the battery cell 100. The guide space S may guide the directional discharge of gas or flames exiting the exhaust portion 31.

[0095] In addition, a cell support 215 may be formed in the frame body 210 to support the bottom edge of the battery cell 100. The cell support 215 may be provided in plural numbers corresponding to the number of the battery cells 100. The cell support 215 may be formed to have a predetermined depth from the bottom of the frame body 210.

[0096] The cell support 215 may support the bottom edge of the battery cell 100 . To this end, the width of the cell support 215 may be formed to correspond to the outer diameter of the bottom edge of the battery cell 100 .

[0097] The exhaust guide portion 230 may be recessed from the cell support 215 to a predetermined depth to form a guide space S. The exhaust guide portion 230 may have a width smaller than a bottom edge of the battery cell 100. In addition, the exhaust guide portion 230 may have a predetermined width to expose the exhaust portion 31 of the battery cell 100 on the guide space S.

[0098] Refer again Figure 2 and Figures 8 to 10 , the battery pack 1 may include a plurality of cooling pipes 300 .

[0099] The plurality of cooling pipes 300 serve to cool the plurality of battery cells 100 , and are arranged between the plurality of battery cells 100 with a predetermined length, and may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0100] A cooling medium inlet / outlet 350 connected to an external cooling line of the battery pack 1 and configured to supply cooling medium into the cooling pipes 300 and discharge the cooling medium inside the cooling pipes 300 to the outside may be provided at the ends of the plurality of cooling pipes 300 .

[0101] The ends of the plurality of cooling tubes 300 may be exposed to the outside of the battery pack frame. Therefore, the cooling medium inlet / outlet 350 provided at the ends of the plurality of cooling tubes 300 may be more conveniently and easily connected to an external cooling line.

[0102] The battery pack frame 200 will be described in more detail.

[0103] The battery pack frame 200 may include a flange portion 270. The flange portion 270 is used to guide the connection between the battery pack 1 and the vehicle V explained later or between the battery packs 1, and may be provided on at least one edge of the battery pack frame 200. Specifically, the flange portion 270 may be provided on at least one edge of the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200. The flange portion 270 may be formed integrally with the frame body 210 of the battery pack frame 200. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the flange portion 270 may be provided as an integral part in the battery pack frame 200, rather than as a separate component.

[0104] The flange portion 270 may be provided in plurality, and the plurality of flange portions 270 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along both edges of the pack frame 200 .

[0105] The pack frame 200 may include a tube slit 290 . The tube slit 290 is intended to guide the ends 350 of the plurality of cooling tubes 300 to the outside of the pack frame 200 and may be provided at one side of the frame body 210 .

[0106] The pipe slits 290 may be provided in the shape of a groove extending at a predetermined length along the height direction (Z-axis direction) of one side of the frame body 210. The pipe slits 290 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the plurality of cooling pipes 300 and may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0107] Referring again to the battery pack 1 , the battery pack 1 may include a filling member 400 .

[0108] The filling member 400 may be filled in the pack frame 200. The filling member 400 may more stably fix the plurality of battery cells 100 and improve heat dissipation efficiency of the plurality of battery cells 100, thereby further improving cooling performance of the battery cells 100.

[0109] The filling member 400 may be provided as a potting resin. The potting resin may be formed by injecting a diluted resin material into the plurality of battery cells 100 and curing the resin material. Here, the resin material may be injected at a room temperature of approximately 15 to 25°C to prevent thermal damage to the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0110] Specifically, the filling member 400 may be made of silicone resin. Of course, the filling member 400 is not limited thereto, and may be made of other resin materials other than silicone resin that can improve the fixing and heat dissipation efficiency of the battery cell 100 .

[0111] More specifically, since the filling member 400 covers the portion of the battery cell 100 that is not in contact with the cooling pipe 300, it is possible to guide the thermal balance of the battery cell 100, thereby preventing cooling deviation of the battery cell 100 and preventing local degradation of the battery cell 100. By preventing local degradation of the battery cell 100, the safety of the battery cell 100 can also be significantly improved.

[0112] Furthermore, when at least one specific battery cell 100 among the plurality of battery cells 100 is ruptured due to an abnormal situation or the like, the filling member 400 may function as an insulator to prevent current from flowing to adjacent battery cells 100 .

[0113] In addition, the filling member 400 may include a material having high specific heat properties. Therefore, the filling member 400 increases thermal mass and can delay the temperature increase of the battery cell 100 even in situations such as rapid charge and discharge of the battery cell 100, thereby preventing the rapid temperature increase of the battery cell 100.

[0114] In addition, the filling member 400 may include glass bubbles. The glass bubbles may reduce the specific gravity of the filling member 400 and increase the energy density relative to weight.

[0115] Furthermore, the filling member 400 may include a material having high heat resistance. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs due to overheating or the like in at least one specific battery cell 100 among the plurality of battery cells 100, the filling member 400 may also effectively prevent thermal runaway from propagating to adjacent battery cells.

[0116] In addition, the filling member 400 may include a material having high flame retardancy. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs due to overheating or the like in at least one specific battery cell 100 among the plurality of battery cells 100, the filling member 400 may minimize the risk of fire.

[0117] Hereinafter, a pack frame 205 according to another embodiment of the battery pack 1 will be described.

[0118] Figure 11 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack frame of another embodiment of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0119] Reference Figure 11 as well as Figure 2 , the battery pack frame 205 may include a plurality of tube supports 250 .

[0120] The plurality of tube supports 250 are provided at the bottom of the pack frame 205 and may support the plurality of cooling tubes 300. The exhaust guide portions 230 may be provided between the plurality of tube supports 250, respectively.

[0121] The plurality of tube supports 250 are formed with a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) of the cooling tube 300 and may have a groove shape having a predetermined depth in the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the pack frame 205 .

[0122] As such, in this embodiment, the cooling pipe 300 may be more stably fixed and supported within the pack frame 205 by means of the plurality of pipe supports 250 provided in the pack frame 205 .

[0123] Hereinafter, the heat diffusion prevention structure and mechanism for preventing heat diffusion to adjacent battery cells 100 due to thermal runaway when a thermal event occurs in the battery pack 1 according to this embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0124] Figure 12 is a sectional view showing a main portion of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 13 is a graph for illustrating gas discharge from battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0125] Reference Figure 12 and Figure 13 An abnormal situation, such as a thermal event, may occur due to overheating, etc., in at least one specific battery cell 100 of the battery pack 1. In this case, gas G or flames may be generated inside the battery cell 100 where the thermal event occurred. If the gas G, etc., is not quickly discharged, a greater risk may arise, such as explosion of the battery cell 100. In this embodiment, the gas G can be quickly discharged to the bottom of the battery cell 100 due to the rupture or melting of the vent portion 31.

[0126] In addition, in the case of the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, depending on the pressure or temperature of the discharged gas G, the exhaust guide portion 130 arranged to face the exhaust portion 31 may also be broken or melted, so that the gas G, etc. can be quickly discharged to the outside of the bottom of the battery pack frame 200.

[0127] At this time, the guide space S of the exhaust guide portion 130 can more reliably guide the gas out from the bottom of the battery cell 100 along a specific direction of the battery pack frame 200 (for example, in this embodiment, along the downward direction (-Z axis direction)), thereby guiding more effective directional exhaust.

[0128] Hereinafter, a process of manufacturing the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0129] Figures 14 to 16 is a diagram for illustrating a process of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0130] Reference Figure 14 , the manufacturer or the like may respectively arrange the cooling pipes 300 between the plurality of battery cells 100. Then, the manufacturer or the like may combine the plurality of battery cells 100 and the plurality of cooling pipes 300 with each other using an adhesive or the like.

[0131] Reference Figure 15 , the manufacturer or the like may place the plurality of battery cells 100 and the plurality of cooling pipes 300 in the battery pack frame 200 to be accommodated within the battery pack frame 200. At this time, the exhaust portion 31 (see FIG. 1 ) provided at the bottom of the plurality of battery cells 100 Figure 12 ) may be provided in the guide space S of the exhaust guide portion 130 (see Figure 12 )superior.

[0132] Reference Figure 16 , a manufacturer or the like may inject the filling member 400 into the pack frame 200 by means of the filling member injection apparatus 1. The filling member 400 may be injected after electrical connection through the bus bar assembly is performed on the upper side of the battery cells 100.

[0133] The battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can simplify the manufacturing process by reducing the number of components used in the manufacturing process by applying the pack frame 200 with an integrated frame structure, and can also reduce manufacturing costs, thereby ensuring cost competitiveness.

[0134] Hereinafter, a battery pack according to various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail.

[0135] Figure 17 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 18 is a graph for illustrating gas discharge from battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0136] The battery pack 2 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery pack 1 of the previous embodiment, and thus features substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment will not be described in detail, and features different from those of the previous embodiment will be described in detail.

[0137] Reference Figure 17 , the battery pack frame 500 of the battery pack 2 may include a first frame 510 , a second frame 530 , a directional exhaust guide channel 550 , and an exhaust valve 570 .

[0138] The first frame 510 may accommodate the battery cells 100 . In the first frame 510 , a cell support 512 and an exhaust guide portion 515 may be formed at the bottom like the previous embodiment. The first frame 510 may be filled with a filling member 400 .

[0139] The second frame 530 may be provided at the bottom of the first frame 510. The second frame 530 may be integrally formed with the first frame 510, or may be connected as a separate member.

[0140] The directional exhaust guide passage 550 is formed between the first frame 510 and the second frame 530 and may be disposed below (in the −Z-axis direction) the exhaust guide portion 515. The directional exhaust guide passage 550 may be formed to have a predetermined length in a specific direction.

[0141] The exhaust valve 570 is provided in the second frame 530 and may be arranged to face the directional exhaust guide passage 550. The exhaust valve 570 may be provided to exhaust the gas G etc. inside the directional exhaust guide passage 550 to the outside of the second frame 530.

[0142] Reference Figure 18 When an abnormal situation such as a thermal event occurs in the battery cells 100 of the battery pack 2, the gas G in the battery cells 100 may be guided into the directional exhaust guide passage 550 through the exhaust portion 31 at the bottom of the specific battery cell 100 and the exhaust guide portion 515 at the bottom of the exhaust portion 31. Thereafter, the gas G may flow along the directional exhaust guide passage 550 and exit the exhaust valve 615 to the outside of the second frame 530.

[0143] In the case of the battery pack 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when gases G, etc. are discharged from multiple battery cells 100 when a thermal event occurs, the gases G, etc. escaping from the battery cells 100 can be guided in a specific direction through the directional exhaust guide channel 550 provided at the bottom of the exhaust guide portion 130 of the battery pack 2, so that the gases G, etc. are discharged together to the exhaust valve 570.

[0144] Figure 19 is a diagram for illustrating a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 20 is a diagram for illustrating gas discharge from battery cells when a thermal event occurs in a battery pack according to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0145] The battery pack 3 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery pack 1 of the previous embodiment, so features substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment will not be described in detail, and features different from those of the previous embodiment will be described in detail.

[0146] Reference Figure 19 and Figure 20 , the battery pack frame 600 of the battery pack 3 may include a first frame 610 , a second frame 630 , a directional exhaust guide passage 650 , an exhaust valve 670 and a fire extinguishing unit 690 .

[0147] In the first frame 610, a cell support 612 and an exhaust guide portion 615 may be formed. The cell support 612 and the exhaust guide portion 615 are substantially the same as or similar to the cell support 512 and the exhaust guide portion 515 of the previous embodiment and thus will not be described again.

[0148] The second frame 630 , the directional exhaust guide passage 650 , and the exhaust valve 670 are substantially the same as or similar to the first frame 510 , the second frame 530 , the directional exhaust guide passage 550 , and the exhaust valve 570 of the previous embodiment and thus will not be described again.

[0149] The fire extinguishing unit 690 may be provided within the directional exhaust guide passage 550. The fire extinguishing unit 690 is provided in plural numbers and may inject a fire extinguishing material into the directional exhaust guide passage 550 during a thermal event.

[0150] Therefore, the battery pack 3 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can suppress fire and the like while guiding the discharge of gas G and the like during a thermal event.

[0151] Figure 21 is a diagram for illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0152] Reference Figure 21 , the vehicle V according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include at least one of the battery packs 1, 2, and 3 according to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure. In addition, in addition to the battery packs 1, 2, and 3, the vehicle V according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may also include various other components included in the vehicle. For example, in addition to the battery packs 1, 2, and 3 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle V according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may also include a body, a motor, and a control device (such as an ECU (Electronic Control Unit)).

[0153] Furthermore, the battery packs 1 , 2 , 3 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be provided to other devices, instruments, and equipment other than the vehicle V, such as an energy storage system (ESS) using a secondary battery.

[0154] According to the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide the battery pack 1 , the battery pack 2 , the battery pack 3 , and the vehicle V including the battery pack that can prevent heat from spreading to adjacent battery cells 100 when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 100 .

[0155] Furthermore, according to the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide the battery pack 1 , the battery pack 2 , the battery pack 3 , and the vehicle V including the battery pack, which can simplify the manufacturing process and reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0156] The present disclosure has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples (although indicating preferred embodiments of the present disclosure) are given by way of illustration only, as various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of battery cells having a vent portion; as well as A battery pack frame is configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and has an exhaust guide portion in a region corresponding to the exhaust portion of the plurality of battery cells.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The exhaust guide portion is formed to have a smaller thickness than other portions of the pack frame so as to be broken or melted above a predetermined pressure or a predetermined temperature.

3. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The vent portion is provided at the bottom of the plurality of battery cells, and The exhaust guide portion is provided at the bottom of the battery pack frame.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The exhaust guide portion has a thickness smaller than that of a bottom of the pack frame.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The exhaust guide portions are provided in a number corresponding to the number of the plurality of battery cells.

6. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The battery pack frame is provided as an integral plastic frame.

7. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The exhaust guide portion is integrally formed with the pack frame.

8. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The exhaust guide portion is provided in a notch shape at the bottom of the pack frame.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of cooling tubes arranged between the plurality of battery cells with a predetermined length and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, The battery pack frame includes a plurality of tube supports for supporting the plurality of cooling tubes.

10. The battery pack according to claim 9, in, The exhaust guide portion is provided between the plurality of tube supports.

11. The battery pack according to claim 9, in, The plurality of tube supports are formed in a groove shape having a predetermined length and a predetermined depth in a longitudinal direction of the cooling tube.

12. The battery pack according to claim 9, in, The ends of the plurality of cooling tubes are connected to an external cooling line of the battery pack and have a cooling medium inlet / outlet to supply a cooling medium into the cooling tubes and discharge the cooling medium inside the cooling tubes to the outside, and The ends of the plurality of cooling pipes are exposed to the outside of the battery pack frame.

13. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, At least one flange portion is integrally formed with at least one edge of the pack frame.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, in, The flange portion is provided in plural, and The plurality of flange portions are arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along two edges of the battery pack frame.

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

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