Energy storage module

Abstract

An energy storage module includes: a coolant tank for storing a coolant; the fire extinguishing agent tank is used for storing a fire extinguishing agent; a pipe connected to the coolant tank and the fire extinguishing agent tank; a plurality of cooling plates connected to the tube; and a plurality of battery modules respectively coupled to the plurality of cooling plates. Each of the battery modules includes a battery cell, and the battery cell has a vent in one end portion thereof and the other end portion thereof faces a corresponding one of the cooling plates.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0035709 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on March 14, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] Aspects of the embodiments relate to an energy storage module. Background Art

[0004] Secondary batteries are energy storage systems that can store electrical energy as chemical energy. Unlike primary batteries that are designed not to be recharged, secondary batteries are batteries that are designed to be charged and discharged. Secondary batteries are used in information technology (IT) devices such as smart phones, mobile phones, laptop computers and tablet personal computers. In recent years, people are increasingly interested in electric vehicles to reduce environmental pollution. Therefore, secondary batteries are also used in electric vehicles, and in such applications, secondary batteries should exhibit certain characteristics such as high density, high power and stability.

[0005] The information disclosed in this section is provided only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the present disclosure and therefore it may contain information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an energy storage module that cools battery cells during normal operation and sprays a fire extinguishing agent when an event occurs in the battery cells.

[0007] An energy storage module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a coolant tank for storing coolant; a fire extinguishing agent tank for storing fire extinguishing agent; a pipe connected to the coolant tank and the fire extinguishing agent tank; a plurality of cooling plates connected to the pipe; and a plurality of battery modules, each of which is connected to the plurality of cooling plates. Each battery module includes a battery cell, and each battery cell has a vent at one end portion thereof, and the other end portion of the battery cell faces a corresponding one of the cooling plates.

[0008] The extinguishing agent tank may be connected to the pipe via a valve.

[0009] The fire extinguishing agent tank may be configured to store fire extinguishing agent, nitrogen, or a mixture thereof.

[0010] The battery modules may be stacked in a vertical direction, and one of the cooling plates contacting an upper battery module among the battery modules may be at an upper portion of a lower battery module among the battery modules.

[0011] The battery modules may each include a side wall cover, a lower cover, and an upper cover. The battery cells may be accommodated in a space formed by the side wall cover and the lower cover, and the upper cover may be formed on one end portion of the battery cell having a vent formed thereon.

[0012] The lower cover may contact the corresponding cooling plate.

[0013] The upper cover may include a cap plate, the cap plate may have a hollow portion, and the hollow portion may be in a region of the cap plate corresponding to the vent of the corresponding one of the battery cells.

[0014] The upper cover may further include a guide frame, the guide frame may be between the battery cell and the cap plate, and the guide frame may contact the battery cell.

[0015] The guide frame may have an opening, the opening may be in a region of the guide frame corresponding to the exhaust member, and the guide frame may protrude upward from an edge of the opening to contact the cover plate.

[0016] Each of the cooling plates may include a coolant pipe through which the coolant moves and a cover member covering the coolant pipe. The coolant pipe may have a melting zone at a position corresponding to a battery cell of a lower battery module in the battery module.

[0017] The melt zone may be at a position corresponding to a vent of a battery cell of a lower battery module in the battery module.

[0018] The cover member may have a hole exposing the melted region, and the melted region may protrude downward into the hole.

[0019] When the melting zone is opened, coolant from the coolant pipe or fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing agent tank may be sprayed into the battery cells of the lower battery module.

[0020] The battery module may include a first battery module and a second battery module on the first battery module, and the cooling plate may include a first cooling plate and a second cooling plate. The first cooling plate may contact the battery cells of the first battery module, and the second cooling plate may contact the battery cells of the second battery module.

[0021] The first battery module may be cooled by the first cooling plate, and the second battery module may be cooled by the second cooling plate.

[0022] The second cooling plate may include a coolant pipe through which the coolant moves and a cover member covering the coolant pipe. The coolant pipe may have a melting zone, and the melting zone may be at a position corresponding to the battery cell of the first battery module.

[0023] When an event occurs in the battery cells of the first battery module, the coolant or the fire extinguishing agent may be sprayed into the battery cells of the first battery module through the melting area of ​​the second cooling plate.

[0024] The exhaust of the first battery module may be in a region corresponding to the melting zone of the second cooling plate.

[0025] The first battery module may include a side wall cover, a lower cover, and an upper cover. A battery cell of the first battery module may be housed in a space formed by the side wall cover and the lower cover, and the upper cover may be formed on one end portion of the battery cell where the vent is formed. The upper cover may include a cover plate, the cover plate may have a hollow portion, and the hollow portion may be located in an area of ​​the cover plate corresponding to the vent and the melting zone.

[0026] The upper cover may further include a guide frame, the guide frame may have an opening, and the opening may be in a region of the guide frame corresponding to the exhaust member, the hollow portion, and the melting zone. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings incorporated into this specification illustrate embodiments and are used to further illustrate the technical concept of the present disclosure in conjunction with the detailed description of the following embodiments, and the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the contents shown in such drawings. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 This is an energy storage module according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 2 It is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the cooling plate of the upper battery module and the upper cover of the lower battery module.

[0030] Figure 3 is a view showing events occurring in a battery cell of a lower battery module.

[0031] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a view showing that a fire extinguishing agent is injected into a battery cell where an event occurs. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be restrictively interpreted as general meanings or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure based on the principle that the inventor can be his / her own lexicographer to appropriately define the concept of terms to best describe his / her invention.

[0033] The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are only some of the embodiments of the present disclosure and do not represent all of the technical spirit, aspects, and features of the present disclosure. Therefore, it should be understood that at the time of filing this application, various equivalents and modifications that can replace or modify the embodiments described herein may exist.

[0034] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may also be present. When an element or layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, no intervening elements or layers are present. For example, when a first element is described as being “coupled to” or “connected to” a second element, the first element can be directly coupled or connected to the second element, or the first element can be indirectly coupled or connected to the second element via one or more intervening elements.

[0035] In the drawings, for clarity of illustration, the sizes of various elements, layers, etc. can be magnified. The same reference numerals indicate the same elements. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more associated enumerated items. Further, the use of "may" when describing an embodiment of the present disclosure relates to "one or more embodiments of the present disclosure." Expressions such as "at least one of..." and "any one of..." before a list of elements modify the entire list of elements and do not modify a single element in the list. When a phrase such as "at least one of A, B, and C," "at least one of A, B, or C," "at least one selected from the group of A, B, and C," or "at least one selected from A, B, and C" is used to specify a list of elements A, B, and C, the phrase can refer to any and all suitable combinations or subsets of A, B, and C, such as A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. As used herein, the terms "use," "using," and "used" may be considered synonymous with the terms "utilize," "utilizing," and "utilized," respectively. As used herein, the terms "substantially," "about," and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to take into account the inherent variations in measurements or calculations that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize.

[0036] It will be understood that although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or section from another element, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

[0037] For ease of description, spatially relative terms such as "below," "beneath," "below," "above," and "on" may be used herein to describe the relationship of one element or feature to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that, in addition to the orientations depicted in the figures, spatially relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element described as being "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" or "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the term "below" can encompass both above and below orientations. The device can be positioned in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0038] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms "a" and "an" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "includes," "including," "comprises," and / or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of the recited features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and / or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and / or groups thereof.

[0039] In addition, any numerical range disclosed and / or set forth herein is intended to include all subranges of the same numerical precision falling within the range set forth. For example, the range of "1.0 to 10.0" is intended to include all subranges between (and including) the minimum value 1.0 set forth and the maximum value 10.0 set forth, that is, with a minimum value equal to or greater than 1.0 and a maximum value equal to or less than 10.0, such as 2.4 to 7.6. Any maximum numerical limit set forth herein is intended to include all lower numerical limits falling therein, and any minimum numerical limit set forth in this specification is intended to include all higher numerical limits falling therein. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to amend this specification (including claims) to clearly set forth any subrange falling within the range clearly set forth herein. All such ranges are intended to be inherently described in this specification so that modifications to clearly set forth any such subranges can meet the requirements of 35 U.S.C. § 112 (a) and 35 U.S.C. § 132 (a).

[0040] Referring to two compared elements, features, etc. as "the same" may mean that they are "substantially the same." Thus, the phrase "substantially the same" may include situations with what is considered in the art to be low deviations (e.g., 5% or less). In addition, when a parameter is referred to as being consistent in a given area, this may mean that it is consistent in terms of average value.

[0041] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each element may be in the singular or in the plural.

[0042] Disposing an arbitrary element “on (or under)” or “over (or under)” an element may mean that the arbitrary element may be disposed in contact with the upper (or lower) surface of the element, and another element may also be interposed between the element and any element disposed above (or below) the element.

[0043] Further, it will be understood that when a component is referred to as being “linked,” “coupled” or “connected” to another component, the components can be directly “coupled,” “linked” or “connected” to each other or other components may be “intervening” between the components.

[0044] Throughout this specification, when "A and / or B" is stated, this refers to A, B, or A and B, unless otherwise stated. That is, "and / or" includes any or all combinations of the listed items. When "C to D" is stated, this refers to C or more and D or less, unless otherwise indicated.

[0045] Hereinafter, an energy storage module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Figure 1This is an energy storage module according to an embodiment.

[0047] See also Figure 1 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy storage module 100 may include a coolant tank 110 , a fire extinguishing agent tank 120 , a pipe 130 , a cooling plate 140 and at least one battery module 150 .

[0048] The coolant tank 110 can store a coolant. The coolant can include water. During normal times (e.g., during normal operation), the coolant tank 110 supplies the coolant to the battery module 150 and circulates the coolant. Thus, the coolant can cool the battery module 150. For example, the coolant tank 110 can be coupled to (e.g., thermally coupled to or in contact with) the bottom of each battery module 150 via a tube 130. During normal times, the coolant tank 110 can continuously cool the battery module 150 by circulating the coolant.

[0049] The fire extinguishing agent tank 120 may store the fire extinguishing agent and may be connected or coupled to the pipe 130 via a valve 121 .

[0050] The fire extinguishing agent may include a gaseous fire extinguishing agent such as trifluoromethane (HFC-23, CHF3), pentafluoroethane (HFC-125, C2HF5) or heptafluoropropane (HFC227ea, CF3CHFCF3), dodecafluoro-2-methylpentan-3-one (CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2), or water. The fire extinguishing agent may be stored in a compressed manner (e.g., may be stored in a compressed state or under pressure) in a fire extinguishing agent tank.

[0051] In addition, the fire extinguishing agent can be mixed with nitrogen. In some embodiments, the fire extinguishing agent tank 120 can store only nitrogen.

[0052] When an event occurs in the battery module 150, the valve 121 can be opened. Thus, the fire extinguishing agent moves through the tube 130. In another embodiment, the coolant pre-filled (or present or stored) in the tube 130 can be injected into the exhaust of the battery cell experiencing the event. Thus, the battery cell where the event has occurred can be extinguished by the fire extinguishing agent and / or coolant. In addition, heat can be prevented from spreading to the surrounding battery cells. The fire extinguishing operation will be described in more detail below.

[0053] One end of the pipe 130 may be connected to the coolant tank 110 and the fire extinguishing agent tank 120. The pipe 130 may include a branch pipe 141. The pipe 130 may be connected to the plurality of cooling plates 140 through the branch pipe 141. The coolant, fire extinguishing agent and / or nitrogen gas may be supplied to the cooling plates 140 through the pipe 130.

[0054] For example, during normal periods (e.g., during normal operation), the tube 130 may be filled with a coolant. The coolant may be transferred to (e.g., may flow to) the cooling plate 140 through the branch pipe 141. Thus, the battery cells of the battery module 150 may be cooled. In addition, when an event such as a fire occurs in some of the battery cells, a fire extinguishing agent and / or nitrogen is supplied from the fire extinguishing agent tank 120 to the tube 130. Thus, the pre-filled coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent may be transferred to the battery cell experiencing the event.

[0055] The cooling plate 140 may be connected to the tube 130 via a branch pipe 141. In addition, the cooling plate 140 and the battery module 150 may be coupled to each other. The cooling plate 140 may include a plurality of cooling plates 140. Each battery module 150 may be coupled to a respective cooling plate 140. For example, see Figure 1 , the battery module 150 may be a two-layer battery module 150. The lower surface of each battery module 150 may be coupled to a respective cooling plate 140, for example, the bottom portion of each battery cell 153 may face a corresponding one of the cooling plates 140. Thus, the battery cells may be cooled by the coolant flowing through the corresponding cooling plate 140.

[0056] An event such as a fire may occur in one or more of the battery cells. Therefore, heat or flames may be transferred to the cooling plate 140 located on the upper portion of the battery cell where the event occurred (e.g., arranged above the battery cell). Therefore, the cooling plate 140 above the battery cell may partially melt. Therefore, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent inside the cooling plate 140 may be supplied to (e.g., may be sprayed onto) the upper portion of the battery cell. Therefore, the battery cell where the event occurred can be directly cooled and any fire therein can be extinguished. The cooling plate 140 will be described in more detail below.

[0057] The battery module 150 may include a plurality of battery modules 150. Each of the plurality of battery modules 150 may include a battery cell 153. The battery modules 150 may be stacked in a vertical direction. Thus, a battery rack may be formed. The battery module 150 (e.g., each battery module 150) may include a side wall cover 151, a lower cover 152, and an upper cover 154. The battery cell 153 may be disposed (e.g., accommodated) in a space formed between the covers 151, 152, and 154. For example, a space may be formed between the side wall cover 151 and the lower cover 152, and the upper cover 154 may cover the battery cell 153.

[0058] The sidewall cover 151 and the lower cover 152 may surround the side and bottom surfaces of the battery cell 153. Thus, one surface of the top portion of the battery cell 153 where the vent is formed may be exposed. In addition, the upper cover 154 may cover (or be on) the one surface of the battery cell 153 (e.g., the one surface of the battery cell 153 where the vent is formed).

[0059] The battery cells 153 can be connected to form a series circuit, a parallel circuit, or a series-parallel circuit. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery cell 153 is a cylindrical battery. However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and the battery cell 153 can have various shapes or types, such as a prismatic battery or a pouch-type battery. When an event occurs in the battery cell 153, the exhaust member can be opened (e.g., it can burst). Therefore, the high-temperature gas, particles and / or flames inside the battery cell 153 can be discharged to the outside. Therefore, the gas, particles and / or flames can be transmitted to (e.g., can be incident on) the cooling plate 140. Therefore, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent can be sprayed into the battery cell 153 where the event occurs. Therefore, the battery cell 153 can be extinguished.

[0060] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy storage module may include a cooling plate 140. During normal periods (e.g., during normal operation), the cooling plate 140 may cool the battery module 150. When an event occurs in one of the battery cells 153, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent in the cooling plate 140 may be sprayed into the battery cell 153 where the event occurred. Thus, the energy storage module can cool and extinguish fires while having a simple structure. In addition, when an event occurs, a fire extinguishing operation may be performed immediately or substantially immediately.

[0061] In one embodiment, the battery module 150 may include a lower battery module and an upper battery module on the lower battery module. In one embodiment, one of the cooling plates 140 that contacts the upper battery module in the battery module 150 may be at the upper portion of the lower battery module in the battery module 150. Hereinafter, the cooling plate of the upper battery module and the upper cover of the lower battery module will be described in more detail. Hereinafter, the lower battery module may be referred to as a first battery module, the cooling plate that contacts the first battery module (e.g., its battery cell) may be referred to as a first cooling plate, and the first battery module may be cooled by the first cooling plate, the upper battery module may be referred to as a second battery module, the cooling plate that contacts the second battery module (e.g., its battery cell) may be referred to as a second cooling plate, and the second battery module may be cooled by the second cooling plate.

[0062] Figure 2 It is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the cooling plate of the upper battery module and the upper cover of the lower battery module.

[0063] The following explanation will be based on Figure 1The battery module at the bottom.

[0064] See also Figure 2 , the battery cell 153 may include a cap plate 153a and a vent 153b. The cap plate 153a may be disposed on a top portion of the battery cell 153. The vent 153b may be formed in a partial region of the cap plate 153a.

[0065] The exhaust member 153b can be formed to be thinner than other areas of the cover plate 153a. In some embodiments, the exhaust member 153b can be a groove formed in the cover plate 153a. When an event such as a fire occurs in the battery cell 153, high-temperature gas may be generated inside the battery cell 153. The internal pressure of the battery cell 153 may increase due to the gas generation. Therefore, the exhaust member 153b can open (for example, it can burst), which can prevent the battery cell 153 from exploding.

[0066] The upper cover 154 may be coupled to the surface where the vent 153b is formed (or may be above the surface). The upper cover 154 may include a guide frame 154a and a cover plate 154b. The guide frame 154a may be between the battery cell 153 and the cover plate 154b and contact the battery cell 153. The cover plate 154b may be provided on the upper portion of the guide frame 154a.

[0067] The guide frame 154a may be coupled to the cover plate 153a. The guide frame 154a may have an opening corresponding to the exhaust member 153b. That is, the opening may be in the area of ​​the guide frame 154a corresponding to the exhaust member 153b. In addition, the guide frame 154a may have a shape that protrudes upward from (or along) the periphery of the opening. That is, the guide frame 154a may protrude upward from the edge of the opening to contact the cover plate 154b. Gases, particles, and / or flames generated by the event of the battery cell 153 may be guided by the protruding shape of the guide frame 154a.

[0068] The cover plate 154b may be coupled to the edge of the side wall cover 151. In addition, the cover plate 154b may be coupled to the upper portion of the guide frame 154a. The cover plate 154b may surround the battery cell 153 together with the side wall cover 151 and the lower cover 152. Thus, the battery cell 153 may be protected from external impact. The cover plate 154b may have a hollow portion 154c. The hollow portion 154c may be formed in an area of ​​the cover plate 154b corresponding to the opening in the exhaust member 153b and the guide frame 154a. The thickness of the area where the hollow portion 154c is formed may be thinner than the thickness of other areas of the cover plate 154b. When gas, particles and / or flames are generated due to an event of the battery cell 153, the hollow portion 154c may be melted. Therefore, the cover plate 154b may be opened. Therefore, the gas, particles and / or flames may be transmitted to (e.g., may be incident on) the cooling plate 140.

[0069] The following description will be based on Figure 1 The top battery module.

[0070] The lower cover 152 may be provided on the lower surface of the battery module 150. The lower surface of the lower cover 152 may be coupled to the cooling plate 140, for example, the lower cover 152 may contact the corresponding cooling plate 140. A coolant may be filled inside the cooling plate 140. During normal operation (for example, during normal operation), the battery cells 153 may be cooled by the cooling plate 140.

[0071] The cooling plate 140 may include a coolant tube 142 and a cover member 143. The coolant tube 142 may receive (or accommodate) a coolant. The coolant may move through the coolant tube 142. The cover member 143 may cover the lower surface of the coolant tube 142. The coolant tube 142 is not exposed to the outside by the cover member 143. In addition, the coolant tube 142 may be protected from the outside by the cover member 143. The coolant tube 142 may have a melting zone 142a. A hole (or opening) may be formed in a local area of ​​the cover member 143, and the melting zone 142a may protrude downward into the hole. Therefore, the lower surface of the melting zone 142a of the coolant tube 142 may be exposed to the outside (for example, it may be exposed through the opening in the cover member 143). The melting zone 142a may be at a position corresponding to the battery cell 153 (for example, its exhaust member 153b) of the lower battery module in the battery module 100. That is, the exhaust member 153b of the lower battery module may be in an area corresponding to the melting zone 142a of the cooling plate 140. The melting zone 142a may correspond to the hollow portion 154c in the upper cover 154, the opening in the guide frame 154a, and the exhaust member 153b of the battery cell 153. Thus, high-temperature gas, particles, and / or flames are transmitted to (e.g., incident upon) the melting zone 142a, and the melting zone 142a may be melted and opened. In addition, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent inside the coolant tube 142 may be sprayed toward the lower portion.

[0072] Hereinafter, a fire extinguishing operation performed when an event occurs in a battery cell of an energy storage module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0073] Figure 3 is a view showing events occurring in a battery cell of a lower battery module. Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a view showing that a fire extinguishing agent is injected into a battery cell where an event occurs.

[0074] See also Figure 3 , when an event occurs in the battery cell 153 of the lower battery module, the exhaust member 153b can be opened. In addition, the high-temperature gas, particles and / or flames generated in the battery cell 153 can move upward in the dotted line direction. In addition, the gas, particles and / or flames can pass through the guide frame 154a to melt the cover plate 154b. Subsequently, the gas, particles and / or flames can be transmitted to the lower surface of the melting zone 142a of the coolant tube 142 exposed by the opening in the cover member 143 (or exposed via the opening in the cover member 143). Therefore, the gas, particles and / or flames can melt the melting zone 142a of the coolant tube 142.

[0075] See also Figure 4, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent E in the coolant tube 142 can be sprayed toward the lower portion through the melted melting zone 142a. Therefore, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent E can be directly sprayed onto (or into) the battery cell 153 below it. As a result, the fire in the battery cell 153 can be extinguished.

[0076] For example, the coolant inside the coolant pipe 142 may be mainly sprayed. In addition, when the fire extinguishing agent tank 120 is filled with the fire extinguishing agent, the fire extinguishing agent may move along the coolant pipe 142. The fire extinguishing agent may be sprayed downward through the melted melting area 142a.

[0077] In another embodiment, when the fire extinguishing agent tank 120 is filled with the fire extinguishing agent and nitrogen, the fire extinguishing agent may be sprayed under high pressure through the melted melting zone 142 a .

[0078] In another embodiment, when the fire extinguishing agent tank 120 is filled with nitrogen only, the coolant may be sprayed under high pressure through the melted melting zone 142 a .

[0079] Therefore, the fire extinguishing agent and / or coolant can be directly transferred to (eg, can be directly injected into) the upper portion of the battery cell 153 where the event occurred. Therefore, the battery cell can be extinguished immediately or substantially immediately.

[0080] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the energy storage module can cool the battery module normally by using a cooling plate. In addition, when an event occurs in one of the battery cells, a coolant and / or a fire extinguishing agent can be sprayed. In detail, the coolant and / or fire extinguishing agent filled in the cooling plate of the upper battery module can be sprayed into the battery cell of the lower battery module where the event occurs. Therefore, the energy storage module can be cooled and extinguished by using a simple structure. In addition, when an event occurs, a fire extinguishing operation can be performed immediately or substantially immediately.

[0081] The above is only one embodiment for implementing the secondary battery according to the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and the technical spirit of the present disclosure is that any ordinary technician in the field to which the present disclosure belongs can make various modifications without departing from the main purpose of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims.

Claims

1. An energy storage module, comprising: a coolant tank for storing coolant; Fire extinguishing agent tank, used to store fire extinguishing agent; a pipe connected to the coolant tank and the fire extinguishing agent tank; a plurality of cooling plates connected to the tubes; as well as A plurality of battery modules are respectively coupled to the plurality of cooling plates, each of the battery modules including a battery cell having a vent in one end portion thereof and the other end portion of the battery cell facing a corresponding one of the cooling plates. 2 . The energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein the fire extinguishing agent tank is connected to the pipe through a valve. 3 . The energy storage module according to claim 1 , wherein the fire extinguishing agent tank is configured to store fire extinguishing agent, nitrogen or a mixture thereof.

4. The energy storage module according to claim 1, wherein the battery modules are stacked in a vertical direction, and One of the cooling plates that contacts an upper battery module among the battery modules is located above a lower battery module among the battery modules.

5. The energy storage module according to claim 1, wherein each of the battery modules comprises a side wall cover, a lower cover and an upper cover, wherein the battery cell is accommodated in a space formed by the side wall cover and the lower cover, and The upper cover is on the one end portion of the battery cell where the vent is formed. The energy storage module according to claim 5 , wherein the lower cover contacts the corresponding cooling plate.

7. The energy storage module according to claim 5, wherein the upper cover comprises a cover plate, wherein the cover plate has a hollow portion, and The hollow portion is in a region of the cap plate corresponding to the vent member of a corresponding one of the battery cells.

8. The energy storage module according to claim 7, wherein the upper cover further comprises a guide frame, wherein the guide frame is between the battery cell and the cap plate, and The guide frame contacts the battery cells.

9. The energy storage module according to claim 8, wherein the guide frame has an opening, wherein the opening is in a region of the guide frame corresponding to the exhaust member, and The guide frame protrudes upward from an edge of the opening to contact the cover plate.

10. The energy storage module according to claim 4, wherein each of the cooling plates comprises: a coolant pipe through which the coolant moves; and a cover member covering the coolant pipe, wherein the coolant tube has a melting zone, and The melting zone is located at a position corresponding to the battery cell of the lower battery module in the battery module. 11 . The energy storage module according to claim 10 , wherein the melting zone is located at a position corresponding to the vent member of the battery cell of the lower battery module in the battery module.

12. The energy storage module according to claim 10, wherein the cover member has a hole for exposing the melted area, and The molten zone projects downwardly into the hole.

13. The energy storage module according to claim 10, wherein: When the melting zone is opened, the coolant from the coolant pipe or the fire extinguishing agent from the fire extinguishing agent tank is sprayed into the battery cells of the lower battery module.

14. The energy storage module according to claim 1, wherein the battery module comprises a first battery module and a second battery module on the first battery module, The cooling plate includes a first cooling plate and a second cooling plate, wherein the first cooling plate is in contact with the battery cell of the first battery module, and The second cooling plate is in contact with the battery cells of the second battery module.

15. The energy storage module according to claim 14, wherein the first battery module is cooled by the first cooling plate, and The second battery module is cooled by the second cooling plate.

16. The energy storage module according to claim 14, wherein the second cooling plate comprises: a coolant pipe through which the coolant moves; and a cover member covering the coolant pipe, wherein the coolant tube has a melting zone, and The melting zone is located at a position corresponding to the battery cell of the first battery module.

17. The energy storage module according to claim 16, wherein: When an event occurs in the battery cells of the first battery module, the coolant or the fire extinguishing agent is sprayed into the battery cells of the first battery module through the melting zone of the second cooling plate. 18 . The energy storage module according to claim 17 , wherein the exhaust member of the first battery module is in a region corresponding to the melting zone of the second cooling plate.

19. The energy storage module according to claim 18, wherein the first battery module comprises a side wall cover, a lower cover and an upper cover, wherein the battery cells of the first battery module are accommodated in a space formed by the side wall cover and the lower cover, wherein the upper cover is on the one end portion of the battery cell where the vent is formed, The upper cover comprises a cover plate, wherein the cover plate has a hollow portion, and The hollow portion is located in a region of the cover plate corresponding to the exhaust member and the melting zone.

20. The energy storage module according to claim 19, wherein the upper cover further comprises a guide frame, wherein the guide frame has an opening, and The opening is in a region of the guide frame corresponding to the vent, the hollow portion, and the melting zone.

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