Battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery cells; the battery pack shell is used for accommodating a plurality of battery cells; the battery module includes a battery cell, a module cover for covering an outer side of the battery cell, and a blocking member for guiding a discharge discharged from the battery cell in an outer space of the module cover.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0002] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0159748 filed on November 17, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0003] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0145821 filed on October 23, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Background Art

[0004] Secondary batteries, which are easily applicable depending on the product group and have electrical characteristics such as high energy density, are generally used in electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by electric drive sources, as well as portable devices. Due to the main advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels and the other advantage of not producing byproducts generated by energy use, these secondary batteries have attracted attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency.

[0005] Currently, widely used secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. When a higher output voltage is required, a battery module or battery pack can be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Furthermore, a battery module or battery pack can be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel to increase the charge / discharge capacity. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or battery pack can be set in various ways depending on the desired output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0006] In addition, because battery cells undergo chemical reactions during charge and discharge, their performance may deteriorate if they are used at temperatures above the appropriate temperature, and if the heat cannot be controlled at the appropriate temperature, accidental fire or explosion is more likely to occur. Therefore, if a thermal event such as thermal runaway occurs inside a battery pack including multiple battery modules, high-temperature gas or flames emitted from the battery cells therein may spread to adjacent battery modules, causing a chain reaction of explosions in the battery modules, which is extremely dangerous.

[0007] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a structure that can quickly discharge high-temperature gas or flame generated inside the battery module to the outside when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module, thereby dissipating heat inside the battery module.

[0008] Furthermore, it is necessary to develop a structure that can prevent released gas or flame from flowing into other adjacent battery modules in the event of thermal runaway in a battery module. Summary of the Invention

[0009] Technical issues

[0010] The present disclosure aims to solve the problems of the related art, and therefore the present disclosure aims to provide a battery pack that can minimize the heat energy transferred to adjacent battery modules when thermal runaway occurs in a battery module, so as to prevent or inhibit the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules, thereby improving safety and reliability.

[0011] Furthermore, the present disclosure also provides a vehicle including such a battery pack.

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

[0013] Technical Solution

[0014] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery pack is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a battery pack housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells; and a blocking member having a module cover configured to cover the outside of the battery cells and to guide exhaust released from the battery cells to a space outside the module cover.

[0015] The battery pack may further include a module housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells by grouping the plurality of battery cells, and the module housing having at least one drain hole formed on one side thereof, and the module cover may be configured to cover the side of the module housing where the drain hole is formed.

[0016] A plurality of module housings may be provided, and the module cover may be configured to cover tops of at least some of the plurality of module housings.

[0017] The module cover may be disposed to be spaced apart from the module case by a predetermined distance.

[0018] The blocking member may include a stopper interposed between the module housing and the module cover.

[0019] The stopper may be configured to define a distance between the module housing and the module cover.

[0020] The module cover may be configured to be seated on the stopper.

[0021] The stopper may be provided between the discharge holes.

[0022] The stopper may be configured to extend in at least one direction.

[0023] The module cover may include an opening configured to be opened by pressure or heat to discharge the exhaust to the outside.

[0024] The blocking member may include a guide member extending in at least one direction and disposed on an outer side of the module cover.

[0025] A plurality of guide members may be provided to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a horizontal direction, and a discharge path through which the exhaust gas flows may be formed between the guide members.

[0026] The pack case may include a discharge unit configured to discharge the exhaust to the outside of the pack case, and the guide member may be configured to guide the exhaust to the discharge unit.

[0027] The guide member may be configured such that a flow area of ​​the discharge path is at least partially reduced as it gets closer to the discharge unit.

[0028] The plurality of guide members may be provided to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction.

[0029] In addition, the present disclosure also provides a battery pack including the battery module according to the present disclosure.

[0030] Furthermore, the present disclosure also provides a vehicle including the battery pack according to the present disclosure.

[0031] Beneficial effects

[0032] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, when thermal runaway occurs in a battery module, the heat energy transferred to adjacent battery modules can be minimized. Therefore, the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules can be prevented or suppressed, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery pack.

[0033] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, since high-temperature gas or flame can be quickly discharged to the outside of the battery pack, it is possible to dissipate heat accumulated inside the battery pack.

[0034] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, when thermal runaway occurs in a battery module, high-temperature gas or flame exhausted to the outside of the battery module may be prevented from flowing back into another battery module.

[0035] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent or delay an event such as a fire or explosion due to thermal runaway of a battery pack or a device equipped with the battery pack.

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

[0037] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the 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.

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

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

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

[0041] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which may show, for example, Figure 2 The cross section is taken along line II'.

[0042] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a stopper is applied when viewed from above according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a stopper is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a partially opened module cover during thermal runaway in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the interior of a battery pack to which a guide member is applied according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack to which a guide member is applied according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 11is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] Figure 13 is a rear perspective view of a battery module included in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] Figure 15 is a perspective view illustrating a module cover included in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a stopper is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] Figure 18 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] 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.

[0058] 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.

[0059] In addition, the present disclosure may include various embodiments. Repeated descriptions of substantially the same or similar configurations will be omitted from the respective embodiments, and will be described based on the differences therebetween.

[0060] In addition, although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used in this specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs that these terms are merely for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0061] For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the X-axis direction shown in the figure may represent the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction may represent the front-back direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on a horizontal plane (XY plane), and the Z-axis direction may represent the up-down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0062] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the interior of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which may show, for example, Figure 2 The cross section is taken along line II'.

[0063] Reference Figures 1 to 4 , a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a battery cell 100 , a pack case 200 , and a blocking member 300 .

[0064] Reference Figure 3 , may include a plurality of battery cells 100. Furthermore, although not shown in the figure, the plurality of battery cells 100 may include an electrode assembly, a cell housing accommodating the electrode assembly, and electrode leads connected to the electrode assembly and extending outside the cell housing to serve as electrode terminals. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to one another.

[0065] The battery cell 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery. The cell case of the pouch-type secondary battery may be configured as a bag-shaped object in which a metal layer made of aluminum is interposed between polymer layers.

[0066] like Figure 3 As shown, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction (X-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0067] In addition, the present disclosure is not limited to a specific type or shape of battery cells 100, and various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing this disclosure can be applied to the battery pack 1 of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, although a pouch-type secondary battery having high energy density and easy stacking is described as shown in the figure, it is obvious that a cylindrical or prismatic secondary battery can also be applied to the battery cell 100.

[0068] The pack case 200 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100. The pack case 200 may have an accommodation space formed to accommodate the plurality of battery cells 100. The accommodation space may be an empty space capable of accommodating the battery cells 100 therein.

[0069] The pack case 200 may be made of a material capable of ensuring mechanical strength, such as metal (such as steel or SUS) or plastic, or may include such a material in order to safely protect the battery cells 100 accommodated therein.

[0070] In addition, refer to Figures 2 to 4 The battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a barrier member 300. The barrier member 300 may be configured to separate the accommodation space of the battery module 10 from the external space of the battery pack housing 200. That is, the barrier member 300 may be configured so that the exhaust generated from the battery module 10 flows only outside the battery module 10. Here, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 10, the exhaust may indicate all substances discharged, such as exhaust gas, flames, or sparks.

[0071] In particular, the blocking member 300 may have a module cover 310. The module cover 310 may be configured to cover the outside of the battery cell 100.

[0072] In particular, the module cover 310 may be configured to completely separate the accommodation space of the battery cells 100 from the external space of the pack case 200. That is, the module cover 310 may be configured so that exhaust generated from the battery cells 100 flows only through the outside of the module cover 310.

[0073] The module cover 310 may be made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance (eg, mica).

[0074] Thus, the blocking member 300 may be configured to guide exhaust released from the battery cells 100 through an external space of the module cover 310 .

[0075] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, even if a thermal event occurs, since the space of the battery cells 100 and the space through which exhaust flows are separated by the blocking member 300 , thermal damage directly caused to the battery cells 100 can be minimized.

[0076] Furthermore, exhaust discharged to the external space of the module cover 310 can be prevented from flowing back into the other battery cells 100. Therefore, heat transfer to the other battery cells 100 can be minimized, so that the safety and reliability of the battery pack 1 can be ensured.

[0077] In addition, reference Figure 3 , the plurality of battery cells 100 may be modularized into one or more battery modules 10. That is, the battery pack 1 according to the present disclosure may include one or more battery modules 10. In addition, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be included as components of one or more battery modules 10. In this case, the plurality of battery cells 100 included in the battery module 10 may be electrically connected to each other.

[0078] Furthermore, a plurality of battery modules 10 may be provided inside the pack case 200. That is, the battery pack 1 according to the present disclosure may include a plurality of battery modules 10, and a plurality of battery cells 100 included in the battery pack 1 may be divided and included in the plurality of battery modules 10, respectively.

[0079] A plurality of battery modules 10 may be arranged along at least one direction inside the battery pack housing 200. Figure 3 As shown in the embodiment in FIG, the plurality of battery modules 10 may be arranged in four rows along the front-to-rear direction of the pack case 200 and in two columns along the left-to-right direction of the pack case 200, so that a total of eight battery modules 10 may be provided.

[0080] In particular, the battery pack 1 according to the present disclosure may include a module housing 11. The module housing 11 may have an interior space formed therein and may be configured to accommodate at least some of the plurality of battery cells 100 within the interior space. In particular, the module housing 11 may be included in each battery module 10 to group the plurality of battery cells 100 into a plurality of battery modules 10, and may be a boundary that physically limits the interior space of each battery module 10.

[0081] Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the battery module 10 may include a bus bar assembly and / or module terminals electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells 100 accommodated therein.

[0082] The exhaust hole 12 may be formed on the module case 11. The exhaust hole 12 may be configured such that exhaust gas generated in the battery cells 100 accommodated inside the module case 11 is discharged to the outside of the module case 11.

[0083] Specifically, the discharge hole 12 can achieve directional discharge in a specific direction. Figure 3As shown, the drain holes 12 may be formed on the upper surface of the module case 11, and directional draining of the battery module 10 toward the top may be performed through the drain holes 12. A plurality of drain holes 12 may be arranged at regular intervals in the horizontal direction (X-axis and Y-axis directions).

[0084] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, if gas or the like is generated due to thermal runaway occurring in one battery cell 100 , directional discharge of the gas or the like can be quickly performed in a specific direction from the module case 11 .

[0085] Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, the battery module 10 may include a bus bar assembly and / or module terminals electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells 100 accommodated therein.

[0086] As described above, the discharge hole 12 provided on the upper surface of the module housing 11 may be configured to discharge gas or flame generated inside the battery module 10 to the outside of the battery module 10 when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10. The remaining portion of the module housing 11 except for the discharge hole 12 may be closed, and the gas or flame may be discharged in a straight line toward the discharge hole 12.

[0087] According to the above-described configuration implemented in the present disclosure, even if a thermal event occurs anywhere inside the battery cell 100, the gas or flame generated in the battery cell 100 can be discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 through the specific discharge holes 12 provided on the upper surface of the battery cell 100, thereby ensuring effective discharge.

[0088] The module cover 310 may be configured to cover one side of the module housing 11. In particular, the module cover 310 may be configured to cover the outer surface of the module housing 11 where the discharge hole 12 is formed. Figure 3 As shown in the embodiment in FIG, in the case where the discharge hole 12 is formed on the upper surface of the module case 11 , the module cover 310 may be provided at the top of the module case 11 .

[0089] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, exhaust released from the exhaust hole 12 of the battery module 10 may flow to the outside of the module cover 310 .

[0090] The module cover 310 may be configured to cover the top of at least some of the plurality of module housings 11. For example, the module cover 310 may be configured to cover the top of each module housing 11. Alternatively, the module cover 310 may be configured to cover the entire module housing 11 arranged in one direction. Figure 2As shown in the embodiment of FIG, the module cover 310 can be configured to cover the top of all module housings 11 arranged in the front-to-back direction. That is, the module cover 310 can be configured to extend long enough to cover the area from one end to the other end of the stack of battery modules 10 arranged in one direction.

[0091] According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, the module cover 310 can guide exhaust to the outside of the stack of battery modules 10 in the space outside the module cover 310. Furthermore, according to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, since the module cover 310 is arranged to extend along the direction in which the battery modules 10 are arranged, the module cover 310 can clearly separate the internal space accommodating the battery modules 10 from the external space of the battery pack case 200. Therefore, exhaust released to the outside of the module cover 310 can be prevented from affecting the battery modules 10.

[0092] In addition, refer to Figure 4 , the module cover 310 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the module case 11. For example, the module cover 310 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance apart from the upper surface of the module case 11 so as to cover the upper surface of the module cover 11 from the outside.

[0093] Specifically, the battery pack housing 200 may have a crossbeam 230 configured to separate the battery modules 10 arranged in one direction inside the battery pack housing 200. The crossbeam 230 may be configured to protrude further upward than the module housing 11. In addition, the module cover 310 may be configured to be placed on the crossbeam 230. Therefore, the module cover 310 and the module housing 11 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0094] According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, since the module cover 310 is spaced a predetermined distance from the module housing 11, the module cover 310 can more reliably separate the housing space of the battery module 10 from the external space. Therefore, even if exhaust gas or flames are emitted from a battery module 10, heat transfer to adjacent battery modules 10 can be suppressed. Furthermore, according to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, since the module cover 310 is positioned on and coupled to the cross member 230, assembly of the battery pack 1 can be improved.

[0095] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a battery pack to which a stopper is applied when viewed from above according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a stopper is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] The blocking member 300 may include a stopper 320. The stopper 320 may be interposed between the module case 11 and the module cover 310. A plurality of stoppers 320 may be provided such that each battery module 10 is equipped with them.

[0097] The stopper 320 may be configured to define the distance between the module housing 11 and the module cover 310. When a thermal event occurs inside the battery module 10, the upper portion of the battery module 10 may expand as the pressure inside the battery module 10 increases. In this case, the space between the upper surface of the module housing 11 and the battery cells 100 may not remain constant, and thus, directional discharge through the discharge hole 12 may not be smoothly performed.

[0098] However, according to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, since the stopper 320 is provided between the module housing 11 and the module cover 310, the stopper 320 can pressurize and fix the battery module 10 from the top of the module housing 11. Therefore, the module housing 11 can be prevented from expanding upward, so that the exhaust inside the battery module 10 can be smoothly discharged to the outside through the discharge hole 12.

[0099] Specifically, the stopper 320 may be configured to be seated on the top of the module housing 11. In addition, the module cover 310 may be configured to be seated on the stopper 320. That is, the height of the stopper 320 may be configured to substantially correspond to the distance between the module cover 310 and the module housing 11.

[0100] According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, since the stopper 320 structurally supports the module cover 310, the module cover 310 can be prevented from sagging due to gravity. In addition, the module housing 11 can be more reliably prevented from being lifted.

[0101] Furthermore, the stopper 320 may be configured to prevent exhaust or flames discharged from the interior of the battery module 10 through the exhaust hole 12 from flowing back into the battery module 10 through other adjacent exhaust holes 12. The stopper 320 may be made of a material having fire resistance and / or heat resistance. For example, the stopper 320 may be made of a material such as silicone, polyurethane, or mica.

[0102] Specifically, the stopper 320 may be provided between the discharge holes 12. As described above, a plurality of discharge holes 12 may be provided at regular intervals in the horizontal direction (X-axis and Y-axis directions).

[0103] like Figure 5 As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 3 , the stopper 320 may be provided between the discharge holes 12 spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction.

[0104] In addition, refer to Figure 5, the plurality of discharge holes 12 may form a discharge hole array arranged in one direction. Figure 5 The discharge holes 12 are arranged in a row (in the Y-axis direction) to form a discharge hole array.

[0105] According to the above-described configuration implemented in the present disclosure, even if a thermal event occurs at any position of the battery cell 100, the gas or flame generated in the battery cell 100 can be discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 through the discharge holes 12 included in the discharge hole array provided on the top of the battery cell 100.

[0106] In addition, the battery cells 100 may be stacked in one direction (ie, in the direction in which the battery cells 100 are stacked). Figure 5 A plurality of discharge hole arrays are arranged side by side in the X-axis direction. One discharge hole array may be arranged to correspond to at least one battery cell 100.

[0107] In this case, if Figure 6 As shown in the embodiment of FIG, stoppers 320 may be provided between the array of discharge holes. That is, stoppers 320 may be provided between discharge holes 12 that are spaced apart from each other in a direction horizontally perpendicular to the direction in which the battery cells 100 are stacked. According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, since the movement of exhaust is blocked between the battery cells 100, heat propagation between the battery cells 100 can be suppressed or delayed.

[0108] In addition, refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The stopper 320 may be configured to extend in at least one direction. That is, the stopper 320 may be configured to extend in at least one direction between the discharge holes 12. For example, the stopper 320 may be configured to extend in the stacking direction of the battery cells 100a or in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery cells 100a.

[0109] According to the configuration of the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, since the stopper 320 is arranged across multiple discharge holes 12, the movement of the discharged matter can be more reliably blocked. In addition, compared with the case where multiple stoppers 320 are provided in a single battery module 10, the manufacturing process can be simplified, thereby improving the productivity when manufacturing the battery pack 1.

[0110] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating a partially opened module cover during thermal runaway in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0111] Reference Figure 7, the module cover 310 may include an opening 311. The opening 311 may be configured to be opened by pressure or heat of exhaust released from the battery cell 100. The opening 311 may be provided above the discharge hole 12.

[0112] Specifically, in a normal state, the module cover 310 can cover the outer surface of the module housing 11 on which the drain holes 12 are formed, thereby protecting the battery module 10 and the battery cells 100. However, when a thermal event occurs such that exhaust gas or flames are generated in some of the battery cells 100, the opening 311 of the module cover 310 can be opened so that the exhaust can be smoothly discharged to the external space of the module cover 310 without being blocked by the drain holes 12 of the battery module 10.

[0113] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, as the opening 311 is opened so that the discharge hole 12 is exposed to the outside of the module cover 310 , exhaust such as gas or flame may be completely discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 .

[0114] Furthermore, according to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, the module cover 310 can prevent exhaust (such as gas or flame) discharged to the outside from flowing back into the interior of the adjacent battery module 10. Therefore, since heat propagation to the adjacent battery module 10 can be minimized, the propagation of thermal runaway can be effectively prevented or delayed, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery module 10.

[0115] Specifically, the opening 311 may include a cover hole 311 a formed in the body of the module cover 310 and an opening member 311 b provided in the cover hole 311 a to be opened.

[0116] The opening member 311b may be configured to be separated from or opened by exhaust released from the battery cell 100. Therefore, the cover hole 311a may be opened, and exhaust released from the discharge hole 12 may be discharged to the outside of the module cover 310 through the cover hole 311a.

[0117] For example, the opening 311 may have a notch formed along the periphery of the cover hole 311a. In this case, the opening member 311b may be completely separated from the module cover 310, thereby opening the cover hole 311a. Alternatively, the opening member 311b may be configured to have a slit or notch formed as a break. In this case, only a portion of the cover hole 311a may be opened.

[0118] In addition, the opening 311 may be configured to at least partially face the discharge hole 12. That is, the opening 311 may be configured to face at least some of the plurality of discharge holes 12. In particular, the opening 311 may be provided to correspond to each of the discharge holes 12, respectively.

[0119] According to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the discharge pressure of the exhaust discharged in a straight line through the exhaust hole 12 can act on the opening 311, pushing the opening 311 directly in the direction of the exhaust discharge, thereby opening the cover hole 311a. Therefore, when the exhaust is discharged from a certain exhaust hole 12, only the cover hole 311a arranged above the opening 311 facing the exhaust hole 12 can be configured to open. As a result, the exhaust can be discharged more quickly through the cover hole 311a to the space outside the module cover 310.

[0120] Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the interior of a battery pack to which a guide member is applied according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack to which a guide member is applied according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 10 : is a diagram showing a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0121] Reference Figures 8 to 11 , the blocking member 300 may include a guide member 330. The guide member 330 may be provided on the outer side of the module cover 310. That is, the guide member 330 may be provided between the upper surface of the battery pack case 200 and the module cover 310.

[0122] The guide member 330 may be configured to guide the exhaust flowing in the external space of the module cover 310. The guide member 330 may be made of a material having fire resistance and / or heat resistance. For example, the guide member 330 may be made of a material such as silicone, polyurethane, or mica.

[0123] The guide member 330 may be configured to extend in at least one direction. Figure 6 As shown in the embodiment in FIG, the guide member 330 may be configured to extend along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery modules 10. That is, the guide member 330 may be configured to extend along the front-rear direction of the battery pack 1.

[0124] In particular, the guide member 330 may be configured to extend from one end to the other end of the stack of battery modules 10. That is, the guide member 330 may be configured to overlap at least some of the plurality of battery modules 10. In this case, one end of the guide member 330 may extend to the outside of the stack of battery modules 10. According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, the guide member 330 can completely guide the exhaust flowing over the plurality of battery modules 10.

[0125] A plurality of guide members 330 may be provided. The plurality of guide members 330 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction. In this case, a discharge path P may be formed between adjacent guide members 330 to allow exhaust to flow. That is, the discharge path P may be formed in the external space of the module cover 310. The discharge path P may be formed in the space surrounded by the battery pack housing 200, the guide members 330, and the module cover 310. The discharge path P may be configured to extend in the front-to-rear direction in which the guide members 330 extend. In this case, the guide members 330 may be configured to prevent exhaust from moving to another discharge path P.

[0126] Therefore, the guide member 330 may guide the exhaust to flow through the discharge path P in at least one direction in the outer space of the module cover 310 , thereby smoothly exhausting it to the outside of the pack case 200 .

[0127] In addition, refer to Figure 8 , the battery pack case 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a bottom frame 210 and a side frame 220 .

[0128] The bottom frame 210 may form the bottom surface of the battery pack housing 200 and may be configured in the form of a quadrilateral plate. Furthermore, the bottom frame 210 may be configured such that a plurality of battery cells 100 are positioned on its upper surface. Furthermore, the bottom frame 210 may be configured to have a flat upper surface such that a plurality of battery modules 10 are stably positioned thereon.

[0129] The side frames 220 may extend upward from corresponding edges of the bottom frame 210. The side frames 220 may have a plurality of unit walls to surround the plurality of battery cells 100 or battery modules 10. More specifically, the plurality of side frames 220 may include a right wall located at the end of the bottom frame 210 in the -Y-axis direction, a rear wall located at the end in the +X-axis direction, a left wall located at the end in the +Y-axis direction, and a front wall located at the end in the -X-axis direction, thereby forming the side surfaces of the battery pack case 200.

[0130] The pack lid 250 may be configured to cover the tops of the plurality of battery modules 10. The pack lid 250 may be configured to cover the upper opening of the pack case 200. The pack lid 250 may be coupled to the side frame 220. The pack lid 250 may protect components stored inside the pack case 200, such as the battery modules 10, and prevent discharge released from the battery modules 10 from moving to the outside of the pack case 200, particularly to the top thereof.

[0131] In addition, the battery pack case 200 may have a discharge unit 260. The discharge unit 260 may be configured to discharge exhaust generated from the battery module 10 to the outside of the battery pack case 200. The discharge unit 260 may be configured in the form of a hole that passes through the battery pack case 200 from the inside to the outside. Alternatively, the discharge unit 260 may be configured as a discharge device that is installed in the hole of the battery pack case 200 and operates when exhaust is generated inside the battery pack case 200.

[0132] The discharge unit 260 may be provided on the side surface of the battery pack housing 200, that is, on the side frame 220. A plurality of discharge units 260 may be provided. The discharge unit 260 may be located on at least some of the cell walls constituting the side frame 220. In addition, each discharge unit 260 may be formed on two or more cell walls, or two or more discharge units 260 may be formed on one cell wall. For example, referring to Figure 8 , a plurality of discharge units 260 may be respectively provided on the front wall and the rear wall. In addition, the plurality of discharge units 260 may be symmetrically provided with respect to the central axis of the side frame 220.

[0133] According to the above-implemented configuration of the present disclosure, when the battery cell 100 is in an abnormal state, high-temperature gas and the like can be discharged in both directions of the pack case 200 , thereby easily and quickly discharging the gas to the outside of the pack case 200 .

[0134] in addition, Figure 8 The number of installations or positions of the discharge unit 260 described in the embodiment is merely an example and may be changed to various other numbers or positions.

[0135] The battery pack housing 200 may also include a center beam 240 and a cross beam 230. The center beam 240 and the cross beam 230 may be provided to separate the plurality of battery modules 10. For example, the center beam 240 may be formed as a partition extending in the front-to-back direction and may be interposed between adjacent battery modules 10 arranged in the left-to-right direction. Furthermore, the cross beam 230 may be formed as a partition extending in the left-to-right direction and may be interposed between adjacent battery modules 10 arranged in the front-to-back direction.

[0136] According to this implemented configuration, it is possible to prevent heat or flame from directly moving between the battery modules 10 whose storage spaces are divided by the center beam 240 and the cross beams 230 .

[0137] In addition, the plurality of guide members 330 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the center beam 240. The plurality of guide members 330 may be arranged between the center beam 240 and the side frames 220. For example, Figure 8As shown in the embodiment in FIG, three guide members 330 may be respectively provided between the center beam 240 and the two side frames 220.

[0138] The guide members 330 may be configured to guide the exhaust to the exhaust unit 260. For example, the guide members 330 may be provided to extend toward the exhaust unit 260. Therefore, the exhaust (such as exhaust gas) moving through the exhaust path P between the guide members 330 may proceed to the exhaust unit 260. In this case, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 10 As shown in the embodiment of FIG, a plurality of guide members 330 may be disposed parallel to each other so that a gap between the guide members 330 becomes constant.

[0139] According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 10, the guide member 330 can guide the exhaust within the exhaust path P toward the exhaust unit 260, thereby quickly exhausting the exhaust to the outside of the battery pack case 200. This prevents an increase in the internal pressure within the battery pack case 200 and prevents additional chain reaction fires of other battery modules 10.

[0140] In addition, as another embodiment of the present disclosure, refer to Figure 11 The guide member 330 may be configured such that at least a portion of the discharge path P reduces a flow area as it gets closer to the discharge unit 260. Specifically, the guide member 330 may include a portion configured such that a gap of the discharge path P narrows as it gets closer to the discharge unit 260.

[0141] According to the configuration of the above-described implementation of the present disclosure, the guide member 330 can more effectively guide the exhaust within the exhaust path P in a direction toward the exhaust unit 260. Therefore, the exhaust can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the battery pack 1 through the exhaust unit 260, thereby suppressing or preventing thermal runaway between the battery modules 10.

[0142] In addition, refer to Figure 8 , the guide member 330 may be coupled and fixed to the crossbeam 230. Specifically, the module cover 310 may be placed on the crossbeam 230, and the guide member 330 may be placed on the module cover 310 so that the guide member 330, the module cover, and the crossbeam 230 may be coupled to each other from the top of the guide member 330 by a coupling member such as a bolt.

[0143] According to the configuration implemented above, the coupling arrangement between the blocking member 300 and the battery pack housing 200 can be achieved with a simple structure. Furthermore, according to the configuration implemented above, since the module cover 310 is manufactured to be pre-positioned on the crossbar 230, when the guide member 330 is coupled to the top of the crossbar 230, the blocking member 300 can be automatically coupled to the crossbar 230. Therefore, the time and cost of manufacturing the battery pack 1 can be reduced, thereby improving productivity. Furthermore, since the blocking member 300 is stably fixed between the crossbar 230 and the battery pack cover 250, the rigidity of the battery pack 1 can be further ensured.

[0144] Figure 12 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a guide member is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0145] As another embodiment, refer to Figure 12 , the plurality of guide members 330 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction. That is, the guide members 330 may be formed discontinuously, rather than extending continuously from one end to the other. Specifically, the plurality of guide members 330 arranged outside the opening 311 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction.

[0146] Therefore, heat can be dispersed into the space between the adjacent guide members 330 disposed in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the guide members 330 disposed between the openings 311 may be configured to continuously extend, thereby dividing the discharge path P on both sides.

[0147] According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, the guide member 330 may guide exhaust within the exhaust path P toward the exhaust unit 260 and disperse heat within the exhaust path P. As a result, heat accumulation between the module cover 310 and the pack cover 250 may be minimized.

[0148] Figure 13 is a rear perspective view of a battery module included in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 15 : is a perspective view showing a module cover included in a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 16 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack to which a stopper is applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0149] Reference Figure 13, the drain hole 12 may be formed on the rear side of the battery module 10. The rear side of the battery module 10 may refer to the opposite side of the module terminals of the battery module 10. In addition, in this case, the plurality of battery modules 10 may be arranged inside the battery pack housing 200 so that the module terminals point to the interior of the battery pack housing 200. The drain hole 12 may be provided to point to the outside of the battery pack housing 200.

[0150] For example, refer to Figure 14 As shown by the thick arrows, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 10, exhaust gas or flames can be discharged through the exhaust holes 12 provided on the rear side of the battery module 10. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 10, the exhaust gas or flames can be prevented from moving toward the module terminals of the battery module 10. In addition, thermal damage to other battery modules 10 can be minimized.

[0151] In this case, refer to Figure 14 and Figure 15 , the module cover 310 can be configured so that its outer portion is at least partially open. A portion of the module cover 310 can be configured to be open so that exhaust released from the exhaust holes 12 provided on the rear side of the battery module 10 can move to the outside of the module cover 310. For example, the left and right edges of the module cover 310 can be configured to be spaced a predetermined distance from the left and right frames 220. Therefore, exhaust can move from the rear side of the battery module 10 to the outside of the module cover 310.

[0152] Alternatively, if Figure 15 As shown in the embodiment of FIG, the opening 311 of the module cover 310 may be provided on one side of the battery module 10 where the discharge hole 12 is provided. For example, the opening 311 may be provided along the outer edge of the module cover 310.

[0153] According to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, since the opening 311 is provided on the side where the discharge hole 12 is located, exhaust such as gas or flame may be quickly discharged to the outside of the module cover 310 .

[0154] In addition, refer to Figure 16 , the stopper 320 may be configured to guide the discharge released from the battery module 10 directly to the outside of the module cover 310. For example, Figure 16 As shown in the embodiment in FIG, the stopper 320 may be provided on the rear side of the battery module 10. In addition, the stopper 320 may be configured to inhibit the discharge from moving beyond the stopper 320 to reach the interior of the battery module 10.

[0155] According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, the exhaust discharged through the exhaust hole 12 can be guided to the outside of the module cover 310 by the stopper 320. In addition, the exhaust can be suppressed by the stopper 320 from moving toward the module terminal.

[0156] Figure 17 and Figure 18 is a diagram illustrating battery packs to which guide members are respectively applied when viewed from above according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0157] In the case where the discharge hole 12 is provided at the rear side of the battery module 10, the guide member 330 may be provided further inward than the opening 311, as shown in FIG. Figure 17 and Figure 18 In addition, the plurality of guide members 330 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance along the longitudinal direction. That is, the guide members 330 may be configured to be discontinuous, rather than extending continuously from one end to the other end.

[0158] Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 10 , exhaust discharged from the open opening 311 may pass through a space between adjacent guide members 330 disposed in the longitudinal direction and move to the discharge path P.

[0159] According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, the exhaust moved to the outside of the module cover 310 can be moved to the inside of the exhaust path P by the guide member 330. In addition, since the exhaust can be guided toward the exhaust unit 260, the exhaust can be quickly discharged to the outside of the battery pack case 200.

[0160] In addition, the guide member 330 may be provided inside the module cover 310 so as to extend continuously. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the exhaust from moving beyond the center beam 240 to reach other battery modules 10.

[0161] According to the configuration of the above implementation of the present disclosure, when thermal runaway occurs in a battery module 10, heat energy transferred to adjacent battery modules 10 can be minimized. Therefore, propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules 10 can be prevented or suppressed, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery pack 1.

[0162] Figure 19 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0163] Reference Figure 19The vehicle 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more battery packs 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle 3 according to the present disclosure may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle 3 includes a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle 3 may be operated by power supplied from the battery pack 1.

[0164] As described above, although the present disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various modifications and changes are possible by those skilled in the art within the technical concept of the present disclosure and the equivalent scope of the claims to be described below.

Claims

1. A battery pack, comprising: Multiple battery cells; a battery pack housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells; as well as A blocking member has a module cover configured to cover an outside of the battery cell and configured to guide exhaust released from the battery cell to an external space of the module cover.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, The battery pack further includes a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells by grouping the plurality of battery cells, and the module case is formed with at least one drain hole on one side thereof. in, The module cover is configured to cover one side of the module case where the discharge hole is formed.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, A plurality of module housings are provided, and The module cover is configured to cover at least some of the plurality of module housings.

4. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, The module cover is disposed to be spaced apart from the module case by a predetermined distance.

5. The battery pack according to claim 2, in, The blocking member comprises: A stopper is interposed between the module housing and the module cover.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The stopper is configured to define a distance between the module housing and the module cover.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The module cover is configured to be seated on the stopper.

8. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The stopper is provided between the discharge holes.

9. The battery pack according to claim 5, in, The stopper is configured to extend in at least one direction.

10. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The module cover includes an opening configured to be opened by pressure or heat to discharge the exhaust to the outside.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1, in, The blocking member includes a guide member extending in at least one direction and disposed on an outer side of the module cover.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, in, The guide member is provided in plurality in a manner of being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a horizontal direction, and Here, a discharge path through which the exhaust flows is formed between the guide members.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12, in, The battery pack case includes a discharge unit configured to discharge the discharge to the outside of the battery pack case, and The guide member is configured to guide the exhaust to the discharge unit.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13, in, The guide member is configured such that at least a portion of the discharge path reduces a flow area as it gets closer to the discharge unit.

15. The battery pack according to claim 11, in, The guide member is provided in plural and is provided to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction.

16. A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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