Battery module and battery pack and vehicle including same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module, characterized in that the battery module comprises: a plurality of battery cells; at least one blocking member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells; a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the blocking member; and a fixing portion provided on one surface of the module housing to fix the blocking member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to a battery module in which heat propagation within the battery module can be suppressed, and a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0090620, filed on Jul. 12, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries, which are easy to apply 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 in portable devices. These secondary batteries have attracted attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency due to the main advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels and the other advantage of not generating byproducts caused by energy use.

[0004] Currently, widely used secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium-polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. If 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, depending on the desired output voltage or charge / discharge capacity, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or battery pack can be set in various ways.

[0005] At the same time, because battery cells involve chemical reactions during charging and discharging, performance can deteriorate if used in a temperature environment higher than the appropriate temperature. If the heat is not controlled to the appropriate temperature, there is always the possibility of accidental ignition or explosion. Furthermore, battery modules have a structure in which battery cells are densely packed inside the module housing. Therefore, if a thermal event occurs in one battery cell, it is extremely dangerous because the exhausted high-temperature gases and flames can spread to adjacent battery cells, causing a series of battery cell explosions.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a structure that can suppress and delay heat propagation by safely isolating and separating battery cells, even if a thermal event occurs in some battery cells within a battery module, so as to prevent gas or flame from being transferred to other battery cells within the battery module and causing thermal runaway. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] Therefore, the present disclosure is directed to providing a battery module that can effectively prevent or delay propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells by clearly partitioning and separating the battery cells.

[0009] The present disclosure also provides a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

[0010] However, the technical problems that the present disclosure attempts to solve are not limited to the above problems, and other problems not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the present invention described below.

[0011] Technical Solution

[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a battery module is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; at least one blocking member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells; a module housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the blocking member; and a fixing portion disposed on one surface of the module housing and configured to fix the blocking member.

[0013] The fixing portion may be configured such that one end portion of the blocking member is inserted into the fixing portion.

[0014] At least one battery cell may be located between the barrier members adjacent to each other, and the barrier member may extend beyond the battery cell and be inserted into the fixing portion, so that an airtight space may be formed by the fixing portion and the barrier members adjacent to each other.

[0015] The fixing portion may be configured to extend along a length direction of the blocking member.

[0016] The fixing portion may include a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion disposed to face each other, and one end portion of the blocking member may be inserted between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

[0017] The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be respectively provided to protrude from one surface of the module case, and a gap between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be smaller than a thickness of the blocking member.

[0018] The gap between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be configured to increase in a direction protruding from the module case.

[0019] The first and second fixing portions may include rounded surfaces disposed to come into contact with an upper end of the blocking member.

[0020] The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may include inclined surfaces disposed to contact an upper end of the blocking member.

[0021] The module case may include a top plate forming an upper surface of the module case, and the fixing portion may be provided on a bottom surface of the top plate and configured to fix an upper end of the blocking member.

[0022] The blocking member may be provided in plural in one direction, and a plurality of exhaust holes may be formed in the top plate, the plurality of exhaust holes being located between the blocking members adjacent to each other and provided in a manner of exhausting gas generated from the battery cells.

[0023] The fixing portion may be provided between the exhaust holes adjacent to each other and provided in plural in one direction.

[0024] The fixing portion may be formed integrally with the top plate.

[0025] The fixing portion may be provided as a groove formed by recessing at least a portion of the top plate.

[0026] The battery cell may be a pouch-type battery cell having sealing portions on three of four sides, the battery cell may be accommodated in a module housing in an upright state with the side not including the sealing portion facing downward, and the blocking member may extend upward compared to the battery cell and be fixed to the fixing portion.

[0027] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a battery pack including the battery module according to the present disclosure.

[0028] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a vehicle including the battery pack according to the present disclosure.

[0029] Beneficial effects

[0030] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, because the battery cells within a battery module are securely separated and isolated, even if a thermal event occurs in some battery cells within the battery module, the transfer of gas or flame to other battery cells within the battery module and resulting in thermal runaway can be effectively prevented or delayed. Thus, the safety and reliability of the battery module can be ensured.

[0031] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, high-temperature gas or flame generated from battery cells within a battery module may be smoothly discharged to the outside of the battery module.

[0032] Furthermore, according to still 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 including a plurality of battery modules or a device in which the battery pack is mounted.

[0033] Furthermore, the present disclosure may have various other effects, and these effects will be described in the corresponding embodiments, or descriptions of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, are used to provide a further understanding of the technical features of the present disclosure, and therefore, the present disclosure is not to be construed as being limited to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a bottom surface of a top plate included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' of FIG. 1 , which shows the direction in which gas and the like are discharged when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module.

[0039] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view taken along line II-II'.

[0040] Figure 6 is a YZ cross-sectional view illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 7 It shows Figure 4 1 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 1 , which is for illustrating a structure of a fixing portion included in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 8 is a diagram for illustrating a structure of a fixing portion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 9 is a diagram for illustrating a structure of a fixing portion included in a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 11is a perspective view showing a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail 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 common and dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to appropriately define the terms for the best interpretation.

[0047] Therefore, the descriptions presented herein are merely preferred examples for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, and it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications may be employed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] In addition, the present disclosure includes many different embodiments. For these embodiments, substantially the same or similar components will be omitted from repeated description, and different features will be described in detail.

[0049] At the same time, although terms indicating directions such as upward, downward, left, right, forward and backward directions are used in this specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms are only for convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0050] For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the X-axis direction shown in the figure may indicate the left / right direction, the Y-axis direction may indicate the front / back direction, that is, the length direction of the battery cell on a plane (XY plane) perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction may indicate the up / down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, that is, the height direction of the battery cell.

[0051] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of a top plate included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 It is along Figure 1 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' of FIG. 1 , which shows the direction in which gas and the like are discharged when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module.

[0052] Reference Figures 1 to 4 , a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a battery cell 100 , a blocking member 200 , a module case 300 , and a fixing part 400 .

[0053] The battery cell 100 may be provided as a plurality of battery cells. A plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked in one direction. For example, Figure 2 As shown, a plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked along the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0054] The plurality of battery cells 100 may be pouch-type secondary batteries. The plurality of battery cells 100 may include an electrode assembly and a cell housing 110 that houses the electrode assembly. The cell housing 110 may house the electrode assembly in a housing, and the periphery of the housing may be heat-sealed to form a sealed portion. The sealed portion may be provided on three of the four sides of the battery cell 100.

[0055] In addition, the plurality of battery cells 100 may respectively include electrode leads 120. The electrode leads 120 are connected to the electrode assembly and may be drawn out from the cell case 110 to serve as electrode terminals.

[0056] A pair of electrode leads 120 may be provided, and the pair of electrode leads 120 may extend from both ends of the battery cell 100, i.e., in the longitudinal direction (±Y axis direction). In this case, the pair of electrode leads 120 may be a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead. If necessary, the battery cell 100 may have two electrode leads 120 provided at only one end thereof in the Y axis direction (e.g., the +Y axis direction).

[0057] The battery cell 100 may be arranged in an upright position such that the side of the battery cell 100 not including the sealing portion faces downward. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , multiple battery cells 100 can be arranged side by side in the left / right direction (X-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In this case, the sealed portion of each battery cell 100 can face the front / rear direction (Y-axis direction) and the up / down direction (Z-axis direction), and the accommodating portion can face the left / right direction (X-axis direction). If the battery cells 100 are arranged in this manner, the exhaust direction to any side can be easily controlled, and cooling performance can be ensured by performing edge cooling via the sides that do not contain sealed portions.

[0058] The present disclosure is not limited to a specific type or form of battery cell 100, and various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing this application may be applied. Although this embodiment will be described based on a pouch-type secondary battery, as shown in the figure, which has high energy density and is easy to stack, a cylindrical or square secondary battery may be applied to the battery cell 100.

[0059] The battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a barrier member 200. The barrier member 200 may be provided between the battery cells 100 and configured to separate the plurality of battery cells 100. In particular, at least one barrier member 200 may be included in one battery module 10. The barrier member 200 may be provided as a plurality of barrier members along one direction in which the battery cells 100 are arranged.

[0060] The barrier member 200 may be provided for at least one battery cell 100. Therefore, a plurality of battery cells 100 and the barrier member 200 provided therebetween may form one cell stack C.

[0061] The barrier member 200 may include an insulating mat having a thickness less than that of the battery cell 100. The barrier member 200 may be made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance. Alternatively, the barrier member 200 may be provided in the form of a compressed mat made of, for example, silicone or aerogel.

[0062] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery cells 100 may be partitioned or separated to prevent gas or flame from being transferred to other barrier members 200 adjacent to the barrier members 200. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the barrier members 200 may contribute to the structural rigidity of the battery cells 100 by compressing the battery cells 100 when an expansion phenomenon occurs in the battery cells 100.

[0063] At the same time, refer to Figure 2 The module case 300 may be configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells 100 and the barrier member 200 , ie, a cell stack C. Specifically, an internal space may be formed in the module case 300 , and the internal space may be configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells 100 and the barrier member 200 .

[0064] Specifically, the module housing 300 may include a housing body 310. For example, the housing body 310 may be configured as a U-shaped frame. If the housing body 310 is configured as a U-shaped frame, the housing body 310 may be configured to cover both sides and the lower surface of the battery cell stack C. The housing body 310 may include a left plate and a right plate covering both sides of the battery cell stack C and a lower plate covering the lower surface of the battery cell stack C. In addition, the left plate, the right plate, and the lower plate may be configured to be integrated with each other. At this time, the top surface, the front surface, and the rear surface of the housing body 310 may be open. The housing body 310 may be made of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance to physically or chemically protect the battery cells 100 housed therein.

[0065] Furthermore, the housing body 310 may be configured such that the cell stack C can be inserted into the housing body 310 in one direction. For example, the cell stack C can be inserted into the housing body 310 in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction). In other words, the housing body 310 may be configured such that the cell stack C can be inserted therein in a sliding manner.

[0066] The module housing 300 may further include a top plate 320. The top plate 320 may be provided to form the upper surface of the module housing 300. When the housing body 310 is configured as a U-shaped frame, the top plate 320 may be coupled to the open upper surface of the housing body 310. The top plate 320 may be coupled to the housing body 310 by welding. In this case, the coupled top plate 320 and housing body 310 may form a square tube with open front and rear sides.

[0067] Furthermore, the module housing 300 may include end plates 330 disposed on the open front and rear sides of the housing body 310. The end plates 330 may be coupled to the housing body 310 by welding. Meanwhile, although not shown for convenience, the end plates 330 may be made of an insulating material on their inner sides and a metal material on their outer sides, for example. Furthermore, the end plates 330 may partially have holes or slits to expose components that need to be exposed to the outside, such as the positive and negative terminals or connectors of the battery module 10.

[0068] Furthermore, the module housing 300 can be formed in various other forms. For example, the module housing 300 can include a box-shaped lower housing with an open top and an upper cover that seals the lower housing's top opening. In this case, the lower housing can be configured so that the left and right plates covering both sides of the cell stack C, as well as the front and rear plates covering the front and rear sides of the cell stack C, are all integrated.

[0069] Alternatively, the module housing 300 may be configured as a single frame. For example, the housing body 310 may be configured in the form of a square tube including an upper surface, a lower surface, a left side, and a right side, wherein the front side and the rear side are open. According to the module housing 300 including a single frame, the battery cell stack C and the busbar frame assembly 500 may be assembled and inserted into the single frame in a press-fit manner, and the end plate 330 may be connected to the two side openings of the single frame to assemble the battery module 10. At this time, for the press-fit, there may be almost no gap between the lower surface and the top plate 320 of the housing body 310 and the battery cell 100, and there may be almost no gap between the two sides of the housing body 310 and the two side portions of the battery cell 100.

[0070] Main reference Figure 3, a vent hole H may be formed in the top plate 320. The vent hole H may be provided to discharge exhaust gas generated from the battery cell 100 to the outside of the module case 300. The vent hole H may be formed in the module case 300 and may allow directional discharge in one direction.

[0071] For example, Figure 3 As shown, the exhaust holes H may be formed in the top plate 320, and directional discharge upward from the battery module 10 may be performed through the exhaust holes H. Specifically, the exhaust holes H may be provided as a plurality of exhaust holes, and the plurality of exhaust holes H may be provided at regular intervals along the horizontal direction (X-axis, Y-axis direction).

[0072] The plurality of exhaust holes H may be located between adjacent blocking members 200 among the plurality of blocking members 200 arranged in one direction.

[0073] In other words, the vent hole H may be provided above at least one battery cell 100 provided between adjacent blocking members 200. Figure 3 As shown, in the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a blocking member 200 may be provided for every two battery cells 100, and a plurality of exhaust holes H may be formed in rows along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery cells 100 above the battery cells 100 provided between the blocking members 200.

[0074] In this manner, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, the vent holes H provided in the top plate 320 may be provided to discharge gas or flame generated inside the battery module 10 to the outside of the battery module 10. The remaining portion of the module housing 300 except for the vent holes H is sealed, and the gas or flame may be discharged directly toward the vent holes H.

[0075] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, even if a thermal event occurs at any position of the battery cell 100, gas or flame generated from the battery cell 100 is discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 through the specific exhaust holes H provided above the battery cell 100, so smooth discharge is possible.

[0076] At the same time, refer to Figure 2 The battery module 10 of the present disclosure may further include a busbar frame assembly 500. The busbar frame assembly 500 may be disposed inside the module housing 300 and configured to cover at least one side of the battery cell stack C. Figure 2 As shown, the bus bar frame assembly 500 may be coupled to the front and rear sides of the cell stack C.

[0077] The busbar frame assembly 500 may include a busbar frame 510 and a plurality of busbars 520. The busbar frame 510 may be configured to be substantially coupled to the front and rear sides of the battery cell stack C. The busbar frame 510 may be provided with slits through which the electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 may extend in the +Y-axis direction or the -Y-axis direction. In addition, the busbar frame 510 may be made of, for example, a plastic material having electrical insulating properties, and may be configured such that the busbars 520 may be attached to the outer surface of the busbar frame 510.

[0078] In addition, the bus bar frame 510 may be press-fitted to the front end or the rear end of the cell stack C.

[0079] In addition, the plurality of bus bars 520 are devices for connecting the battery cells 100 in series and / or in parallel, and can be made of a metal material such as copper, aluminum, nickel, etc., and can be configured in the form of bars. The electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 can extend to the outside of the bus bar frame 510 by passing through the slits of the bus bar frame 510, and the extended portions can be attached to the surface of the bus bars 520 by welding or other methods. When the electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 and the bus bars 520 are welded in a predetermined pattern at the front and rear ends of the cell stack C, the battery cells 100 can be connected in series and / or in parallel.

[0080] In this embodiment, reference is made to Figure 2 The module housing 300 has an internal space to accommodate the cell stack C and the bus bar frame assembly 500 , and is used to protect the cell stack C from external influences.

[0081] Furthermore, to facilitate assembly or maintain assembly tolerances, a predetermined gap may be spaced between one side of the module housing 300 and the barrier member 200. In this case, if a thermal event occurs in one battery cell 100, there is a risk that exhaust gas or flames could be transmitted to other adjacent battery cells 100 through the specific gap formed between the barrier member 200 and the module housing 300. Even if there is no gap between the barrier member 200 and one surface of the module housing 300, without a separate means for securing the barrier member 200, the pressure of the exhaust gas or flames could cause bending deformation in the barrier member 200, potentially causing it to move leftward or rightward. Consequently, a gap forms between the barrier member 200 and the module housing 300, potentially allowing exhaust gas and the like to be transmitted through the gap to other adjacent battery cells 100.

[0082] Therefore, the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may include the fixing portion 400. Figure 4The fixing portion 400 may be disposed in the module housing 300 and configured to fix the blocking member 200. The fixing portion 400 may be made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance, so that an airtight structure can be maintained even under high heat and pressure. For example, the fixing portion 400 may be made of a fire-resistant plastic material.

[0083] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery cells 100 can be securely partitioned and separated by minimizing the space between the module housing 300 and the barrier member 200. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 100, exhaust gas or flame is prevented from being transferred to adjacent battery cells 100, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery module 10.

[0084] Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the blocking member 200 is fixed to the module housing 300 via the fixing portion 400, bending deformation in the blocking member 200 can be suppressed. Even if a thermal event occurs, the resulting high-temperature, high-pressure exhaust gas or flame may push against the blocking member 200, thereby reducing the possibility of the exhaust gas or flame being transmitted to other battery cells 100. As a result, when thermal runaway propagation occurs in the battery module 10, the propagation of thermal runaway between the battery cells 100 can be effectively prevented or delayed.

[0085] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view taken along line II-II', and Figure 6 is a YZ cross-sectional view illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] The fixing portion 400 can be configured so that one end of the blocking member 200 is inserted into the fixing portion 400. The number of fixing portions 400 can correspond to the number of blocking members 200. In this case, the blocking member 200 can be arranged to extend further in the vertical direction than the battery cells 100. In other words, the vertical height of the blocking member 200 can be longer than the vertical height of the battery cells 100. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the blocking member 200 can be inserted into the fixing portion 400 and supported on both sides, thereby preventing one end of the blocking member 200 from moving in the left / right direction. As a result, multiple battery cells 100 can be more safely separated and isolated.

[0087] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5The blocking member 200 is inserted into and fixed to the fixing portion 400, so that an airtight space S can be formed by the fixing portion 400 and adjacent blocking members 200 among the plurality of blocking members 200. Here, airtightness refers to the concept that when one blocking member 200 is interposed between the adjacent battery cells 100, the movement of exhaust gas is restricted in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) between the adjacent battery cells 100. The airtight space S is provided to communicate with the exhaust hole H, so that the gas generated from the battery cell 100 does not move toward other battery cells 100, but is guided only to the exhaust hole H and discharged.

[0088] In this case, the fixing portion 400 may be provided as a plurality of fixing portions along one direction. One direction may be defined as the direction in which the barrier member 200 and the battery cell 100 are stacked, i.e., the left-right direction (X-axis direction). The fixing portion 400 may be provided between adjacent exhaust holes H among the plurality of exhaust holes H. Gas or flames exhausted from the battery cells 100 accommodated between adjacent barrier members 200 may be discharged to the outside of the module housing 300 only through the exhaust holes H located between the adjacent barrier members 200 by the fixing portion 400.

[0089] In addition, refer to Figure 6 The fixing portion 400 can be configured to extend along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the barrier member 200. The fixing portion 400 can be configured to have the same shape or length as the barrier member 200. The length of the fixing portion 400 can be set to correspond to the length of the barrier member 200. Therefore, both sides of the battery cell 100 can be shielded by the fixing portion 400 and the barrier member 200, thereby preventing the movement of gas, etc.

[0090] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the airtight space S is formed by the blocking member 200 and the fixing portion 400, exhaust gas or the like can be discharged in a target direction (such as a direction in which the exhaust hole H is formed ( Figure 4 In other words, since the periphery of the exhaust hole H is shielded, the upward-directed exhaust of gas can be more effectively directed. If the gas generated inside the battery module 10 were to be discharged in various directions, the time it takes for the exhaust gas to be discharged might be prolonged, which could significantly reduce the safety of the battery module 10. According to this embodiment, the exhaust gas is quickly directed to the exhaust hole H, thereby preventing the exhaust gas from spreading in all directions within the module housing 300.

[0091] Figure 7 It shows Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion A of FIG, which is used to illustrate the structure of a fixing portion included in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 8: is a diagram for illustrating a structure of a fixing portion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 9 is a diagram for illustrating a structure of a fixing portion included in a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0092] Reference Figures 7 to 9 , the fixing portion 400 may be provided on the bottom surface of the top plate 320 to fix the upper end of the blocking member 200. The fixing portion 400 is located within the battery module 10 so as not to increase the height of the battery module 10 and not to change the appearance of the battery module 10. In addition, the fixing portion 400 may be located in an empty space within the battery module 10 so as not to affect the energy density of the battery module 10.

[0093] At this time, one side of the module case 300 (ie, the top plate 320) and the blocking member 200 may be disposed in contact with each other. Figure 7 , the blocking member 200 may be configured to extend further upward than the battery cell 100, and the upper end of the blocking member 200 may be configured to be inserted into the fixing portion 400. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the gap between the blocking member 200 and the top plate 320 is minimized, the space through which exhaust gas can flow can be reduced, thereby preventing thermal runaway from propagating to other adjacent battery cells 100.

[0094] Will refer to Figure 7 The structure of the fixing portion 400 is described in detail. The fixing portion 400 may include a first fixing portion 400a and a second fixing portion 400b disposed facing each other. Each of the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be disposed to protrude from one surface of the module housing 300. For example, Figure 6 As shown, the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be provided to protrude downward from the lower surface of the top plate 320. The protruding lengths of the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be the same.

[0095] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may not be formed integrally, but a gap w1 of a predetermined size may be provided between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b in an area close to the top plate 320, so that even if the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b are deformed, the entire structure will not be deformed and the deformation stress is absorbed to maintain structural robustness.

[0096] One end portion of the blocking member 200 may be inserted between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b. At this time, the gap w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be smaller than the thickness w2 (w1 <w2)。

[0097] Therefore, one end portion of the blocking member 200 can be configured to be press-fitted between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b. According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the movement of the blocking member 200 in the left / right direction is further suppressed, so that the arrangement state of the battery cells 100 and the blocking member 200 can be stably maintained.

[0098] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the gap w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b can be configured to increase along the direction of protrusion from the module housing 300. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, one end portion of the blocking member 200 can be fixed to the lower side of the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the gap w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b can increase along the direction of protrusion from the module housing 300, so that the blocking member 200 can be stably inserted into the increased gap.

[0099] The first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b can be prepared by processing two block structures. Figure 7 As shown, the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may include a circular surface 410 configured to contact the upper end of the blocking member 200. The circular surface 410 may be formed by rounding the edges of the block surfaces of the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b facing each other. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, by making the blocking member 200 contact between the circular surfaces 410, the blocking member 200 can be stably inserted into the fixing portion 400.

[0100] Alternatively, if Figure 8 As shown, the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may include an inclined surface 420 configured to contact the upper end of the blocking member 200. The inclined surface 420 may be formed by chamfering portions of the block surface where the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b face each other. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a thrust force may be generated due to the contact between the inclined surface 420 and the apex of the blocking member 200. Therefore, when gas pressure acts on the blocking member 200, the fixing force between the blocking member 200 and the fixing portion 400 may be further increased.

[0101] The first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b may be manufactured as separate structures from the top plate 320 and may be adhered, assembled, or bolted to the top plate 320. Alternatively, the first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b may be integrally formed with the top plate 320.

[0102] Reference Figure 9 , the fixing portion 400 may be integrally formed with the top plate 320. That is, the fixing portion 400 may be integrally provided on the bottom surface of the top plate 320.

[0103] Specifically, the top plate 320 may be extruded so that the fixing portion 400 is integrally provided with the top plate 320. When the top plate 320 is manufactured by extrusion, the fixing portion 400 may be formed to extend in the extrusion direction ( Figure 9 The Y-axis direction in the figure extends in a straight line.

[0104] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, since the fixing part 400 is integrally provided with the top plate 320 , a process of coupling the fixing part 400 to the top plate 320 is omitted, and defects in a coupling portion of the fixing part 400 and the top plate 320 may be minimized.

[0105] At this time, the fixing portion 400 may be provided as a groove formed by recessing at least a portion of the top plate 320. The blocking member 200 may be inserted into the groove G. In this case, the upper end of the blocking member 200 may be provided in close contact with the groove G without any gap.

[0106] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, since the end of the blocking member 200 is inserted into the groove G of the top plate 320, the fixing force of the blocking member 200 can be further improved. In particular, when exhaust gas is generated from a specific battery cell 100, the movement of the blocking member 200 in the left / right direction can be suppressed by the pressure of the exhaust gas.

[0107] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a sealing force can be stably secured between the end portion of the barrier member 200 and the fixing portion 400 of the top plate 320. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the performance of preventing heat diffusion between the battery cells by the barrier member 200 can be further improved, and the arrangement state of the battery cells 100 and the barrier member 200 can be stably maintained.

[0108] Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0109] Reference Figure 10 The battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more battery modules 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure described above. The battery pack 1 according to the present disclosure may further include a BMS (Battery Management System) for integrated control of charging and discharging of the one or more battery modules 10, a current sensor, a fuse, etc., and a battery pack case 20 for accommodating the above-mentioned elements.

[0110] Figure 11is a perspective view showing a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0111] Reference Figure 11 The 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 or one or more battery modules 10 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 is driven by receiving power from the battery pack 1 or the battery module 10.

[0112] The present disclosure has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, as various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

Claims

1. A battery module, comprising: Multiple battery cells; at least one barrier member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells; a module housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the barrier member; as well as A fixing portion is provided on one surface of the module case and is configured to fix the blocking member.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fixing portion is configured such that one end portion of the blocking member is inserted into the fixing portion.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, in, At least one battery cell is located between the barrier members adjacent to each other, and wherein the blocking member extends beyond the battery cell and is inserted into the fixing portion, An airtight space is thereby formed by the fixing portion and the blocking members adjacent to each other.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fixing portion is configured to extend along a length direction of the blocking member.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fixing portion includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion disposed to face each other, and One end portion of the blocking member is inserted between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, in, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are respectively provided to protrude from one surface of the module housing, and Wherein, a gap between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is smaller than a thickness of the blocking member.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The gap between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is configured to increase along a direction protruding from the module case.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, in, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion include rounded surfaces disposed to contact an upper end of the blocking member.

9. The battery module according to claim 5, in, The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion include inclined surfaces disposed to contact an upper end of the blocking member.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The module housing includes a top plate forming an upper surface of the module housing, and The fixing portion is provided on the bottom surface of the top plate and is configured to fix an upper end of the blocking member.

11. The battery module according to claim 10, in, The blocking member is provided in plural along one direction, and A plurality of exhaust holes are formed in the top plate, the plurality of exhaust holes being located between the blocking members adjacent to each other and being arranged in a manner of exhausting gas generated from the battery cells.

12. The battery module according to claim 11, in, The fixing portion is provided between the exhaust holes adjacent to each other and is provided in plural numbers along one direction.

13. The battery module according to claim 10, in, The fixing portion is formed integrally with the top plate.

14. The battery module according to claim 13, in, The fixing portion is provided as a groove formed by recessing at least a portion of the top plate.

15. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell having sealing portions provided on three of the four sides. The battery cell is housed in the module housing in an upright position with the side not including the sealing portion facing downward, and The blocking member extends upward compared to the battery cell and is fixed to the fixing portion. 16 . A battery pack comprising at least one battery module according to claim 1 .

17. A vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 16.

Images