Battery module and battery pack and vehicle including same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; and compression members provided between the plurality of battery cells and each configured such that a fluid is movably filled in the compression members such that a shape of the compression members is partially changed due to an external pressure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0136821, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on October 13, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] Secondary batteries are easy to apply depending on the product category and possess electrical characteristics such as high energy density. They are commonly used in electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) powered by electric drive sources, as well as in portable devices. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source that improves eco-friendliness and energy efficiency because their main advantage is a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and another advantage is that they do not produce byproducts associated with energy use.

[0004] Currently widely used rechargeable batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. When a high output voltage is required, multiple battery cells can be connected in series to configure a battery module or battery pack. Furthermore, to increase charge / discharge capacity, multiple battery cells can be connected in parallel to configure a battery module or battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or battery pack can be set in various ways according to the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] Meanwhile, a common method for configuring battery packs by connecting multiple battery cells in series / parallel is to first configure a battery module that includes at least one battery cell, and then add other components using that at least one battery module to configure the battery pack or battery rack. Alternatively, recently, battery packs have been manufactured using a "cell-to-pack" method, where multiple battery cells are stored directly in the battery pack casing, etc., without modularization.

[0006] Meanwhile, because pouch cell batteries are manufactured by laminating electrodes and separators, repeated charge / discharge cycles can lead to a slippage phenomenon where the laminated electrodes and separators slide relative to each other at the cell edges. This reduces the thickness at the cell edges, resulting in uneven thickness between cells within the battery cell stack. This uneven thickness can lead to localized degradation of the battery cell during charge / discharge cycles.

[0007] In existing battery modules, to prevent the battery cells from expanding during charge / discharge cycles, compression components such as double-sided tape and PU pads are used between the battery cells to pressurize them.

[0008] However, although compression components can pressurize battery cells to prevent expansion, it is difficult to uniformize the thickness deviation of battery cells by applying different pressures to local locations.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need to develop a structure that can uniformly pressurize battery cells to minimize thickness variations and thus extend the expected lifespan of the battery cells.

[0010] Furthermore, because the compression components are manufactured using plastic foam molding, in the event of a fire within the battery module, the flames could rapidly spread to the compression components, causing heat to propagate to other battery cells. If this heat propagation cannot be controlled between the battery cells, it could lead to a fire or explosion of the entire battery module or battery pack, which is extremely dangerous.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need to develop a structure that can suppress the high-temperature gas or flame generated in any battery cell when a thermal event occurs in the cell, thereby delaying thermal runaway between battery cells. Summary of the Invention

[0012] Technical issues

[0013] This disclosure aims to address problems in the related art, and therefore aims to provide a battery module that can minimize the thickness deviation of battery cells, thereby extending the service life of battery cells, as well as a battery pack and vehicle including the battery module.

[0014] Furthermore, this disclosure also aims to provide a battery module that effectively prevents heat transfer between battery cells or battery modules by properly controlling the high-temperature gas or flame generated by the battery cells under abnormal conditions, thereby improving safety and reliability, as well as a battery pack and vehicle including the battery module.

[0015] However, the technical problems that this disclosure attempts to solve are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the following description of the invention that are not mentioned.

[0016] Technical solution

[0017] In one aspect of this disclosure, a battery module is provided, the battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; and a compression member disposed between the plurality of battery cells, the compression member being movably filled with fluid, and the compression member being configured to partially deform its shape due to external pressure.

[0018] The compression member may include a protrusion, at least a portion of which protrudes outward to form a path for fluid movement.

[0019] The protrusion can be configured to contact the battery cells located on both sides of the compression member.

[0020] Protrusions can be formed on the edges of compression members.

[0021] The protrusion may include a first protrusion disposed on the longitudinal end side of the compression member.

[0022] The first protrusion can be configured to extend in the height direction of the compression member.

[0023] The protrusion may also include a second protrusion configured to extend orthogonally to the first protrusion.

[0024] The width of the first protrusion can be configured to be greater than the width of the second protrusion.

[0025] The protrusion may also include a third protrusion located at the center of the compression member.

[0026] Fluids can include fluids with non-Newtonian properties.

[0027] Fluids can be configured as colloidal solutions.

[0028] The compression member can be configured to cause the fluid filled therein to flow out to the outside due to heat or pressure.

[0029] The fluid can be configured to include at least one of magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide.

[0030] In addition, this disclosure also provides a battery pack including the battery module of this disclosure.

[0031] In addition, this disclosure also provides a vehicle including the battery module of this disclosure.

[0032] Beneficial effects

[0033] According to one aspect of this disclosure, the compression member can uniformly pressurize the battery cell to minimize thickness variations, thereby extending the expected lifespan of the battery cell. In particular, according to this aspect of the disclosure, the performance of the battery cell can be maximized.

[0034] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this disclosure, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell, fluid inside the compression member can flow out of the compression member, thereby extinguishing the flame occurring in the specific battery cell as early as possible. In particular, according to this aspect of the disclosure, the propagation of thermal runaway in the battery module can be effectively prevented or delayed, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery module.

[0035] Therefore, events such as fires or explosions caused by thermal runaway can be prevented or delayed in battery packs containing multiple battery modules or in devices equipped with them.

[0036] In particular, in the case of electric vehicles, by suppressing or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells or battery modules, it is possible to ensure that occupants have enough time to escape or drive.

[0037] In addition, this disclosure may have various other effects, which will be described in the various embodiments, or descriptions of effects that are readily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted. Attached Figure Description

[0038] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and are used together with the detailed description of the invention to provide a further understanding of the technical concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the drawings.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; for example, it may be along... Figure 1 The sectional view taken by the I-I' line.

[0042] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from above; for example, it may be along... Figure 1 The sectional view taken from line II-II' in the figure.

[0043] Figure 5 This is a front view of a partial configuration of a battery module with a compression member applied according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module incorporating a compression member according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0045] Figure 7This is a front view of a partial configuration of a battery module with a compression member applied according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0046] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module that utilizes a compression member according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0047] Figure 9 This is a front view of a partial configuration of a battery module with a compression member applied according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0048] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing that a flame occurring in the battery cell is suppressed by fluid inside a compression member. Detailed Implementation

[0049] The preferred embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terminology used in the specification and appended claims should not be construed as limited to its general and dictionary meaning, but should be interpreted based on the principle that the inventor is permitted to appropriately define terms for the best interpretation, and based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical aspects of this disclosure.

[0050] Therefore, the embodiments and configurations presented in the drawings of this specification represent only the most preferred embodiments of this disclosure and do not represent all the technical ideas of this disclosure. It should be understood that various equivalents and modifications can be made to them when submitting an application.

[0051] Furthermore, this disclosure includes various embodiments. Redundant descriptions of identical or similar elements between embodiments will be omitted, and this disclosure will be described based on the differences between them.

[0052] At the same time, although terms indicating direction such as up, down, left, right, front and back are used in this specification, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these terms are for ease of interpretation only and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the position of the observer.

[0053] For example, in the embodiments of this disclosure, the X-axis direction shown in the figure can represent the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction can represent the front-back direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on the horizontal plane (XY plane), and the Z-axis direction can represent the up-down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0054] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3This is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; for example, it may be along... Figure 1 A sectional view taken along line I-I'. Furthermore, Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from above; for example, it may be along... Figure 1 The sectional view taken from line II-II' in the figure.

[0055] Reference Figures 1 to 4 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery module 10 includes a battery cell 100 and a compression member 200.

[0056] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The device may include multiple battery cells 100. Each battery cell 100 may have an electrode assembly (including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator), an electrolyte, and a battery casing. The multiple battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other. For example, the multiple battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other in series and / or in parallel via busbars or the like.

[0057] Multiple battery cells 100 can be stacked on top of each other and included in the battery module 10. For example, as Figure 2 As shown, 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, each battery cell 100 can have a sealing portion facing the front-back direction (Y-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), and a storage portion facing the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0058] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to a specific type or shape of the battery cell 100, and various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing of this disclosure can be applied to the battery module 10 configured according to this disclosure. In this embodiment, although a pouch-type secondary battery with high energy density and easy stacking will be described as shown, a square secondary battery can also be applied to the battery cell 100 of this disclosure.

[0059] The compression member 200 can be disposed between at least some of the plurality of battery cells 100. That is, the compression member 200 can be configured to be inserted between two adjacent battery cells 100. Furthermore, as... Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a battery module 10 may include a plurality of compression members 200. In this case, the plurality of compression members 200 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in the stacking direction of the battery cells 100 (the X-axis direction in the figure). Furthermore, one or more battery cells 100 may be inserted between two adjacent compression members 200.

[0060] When the battery module 10 is viewed perpendicularly to the stacking direction of the battery cell 100, the cross-sectional area of ​​the compression member 200 can be configured to be almost the same as the cross-sectional area of ​​the battery cell 100. That is, the compression member 200 can be configured to almost cover the entire battery cell 100.

[0061] The compression member 200 can be filled with fluid F. That is, the compression member 200 can have a space for filling fluid F, and fluid F can be configured to move within that space. In other words, a path for the movement of fluid F can be formed inside the compression member 200.

[0062] The fluid F can be configured to move only when an external force is applied to the compression member 200. Therefore, the compression member 200 can be configured to partially deform due to external pressure. More specifically, the fluid F can move within the compression member 200 by pressure applied from the battery cell 100, such that the shape of the compression member 200 can be deformed to correspond to the deformed shape of the battery cell 100. In particular, the compression member 200 can be configured to partially deform in thickness at portions of the battery cell 100 where uneven thickness reduction occurs. The fluid F located at a position where the thickness deviation of the battery cell 100 is relatively uniform can move to a position where the thickness deviation of the battery cell 100 is uneven due to the thickness reduction. Therefore, the compression member 200 can uniformly pressurize adjacent battery cells 100.

[0063] In other words, according to the above embodiments of this disclosure, the compression member 200 can be configured to allow fluid F to move therein to compensate for thickness deviations in the battery cell 100. Therefore, according to the configuration described above, localized degradation of the battery cell 100 can be prevented during charge / discharge cycles, thereby extending the expected lifespan of the battery cell 100 and maximizing its performance. Furthermore, according to the above-described configuration of this disclosure, even if the battery cell 100 expands, the compression member 200 can compress the battery cell 100, thereby contributing to the structural rigidity of the battery cell 100.

[0064] Furthermore, when a fire occurs inside the battery module 10, the compression member 200 can perform a thermal barrier function, which prevents heat, such as flames, generated from the burning battery cell 100 from spreading in the stacking direction of the battery cells 100. Therefore, heat propagation to adjacent battery cells 100 can be minimized. The compression member 200 can block high-temperature gases, flames, discharges, and heat generated from the battery cells 100. Therefore, the compression member 200 can separate or isolate the battery cells 100 to prevent the spread of flames and the like between the battery cells 100.

[0065] At the same time, refer to Figures 1 to 3The battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a module housing 300. The module housing 300 may be configured to have an internal space for accommodating the battery cells 100. The module housing 300 of this embodiment may include a housing body 310 and end plates 320 disposed on the front and rear sides of the housing body 310.

[0066] Here, the housing body 310 may have an upper plate, a lower plate, a left plate, and a right plate to form a storage space, and the stacked components of the battery cell 100 may be stored in this storage space. The housing body 310 may be made of a rigid and heat-resistant metallic material to protect the housed battery cell 100 by physical or chemical means.

[0067] Furthermore, the end plate 320 can be configured to connect with the housing body 310 to cover the opening of the housing body 310. More specifically, the housing body 310 can be configured to have a front opening and a rear opening, and the end plate 320 can be configured to connect with the front opening and the rear opening of the housing body 310.

[0068] Meanwhile, although not shown in the figure, vent holes can be provided on the housing body 310 to allow directional exhaust in one direction. For example, multiple vent holes can be formed on the upper surface of the housing body to allow directional exhaust towards the top of the battery module 10.

[0069] Reference Figure 4 The compression member 200 is described in more detail. The compression member 200 may include a protrusion 210. The protrusion 210 may be formed by at least a portion of the compression member 200 protruding outwards. The protrusion 210 may be formed to protrude in at least one direction, either left or right, of the compression member 200. A path for fluid F to move may be formed within the protrusion 210. That is, the path for fluid F to move may be formed to protrude outwards from the compression member 200.

[0070] The protrusion 210 can be configured to contact the battery cells 100 disposed on both sides of the compression member 200. The protrusion 210 can be configured to pressurize a portion of the battery cell 100. As a result, an external force can be applied to the protrusion 210 that contacts the thicker portion of the battery cell 100. Therefore, the fluid F inside the protrusion 210 can move from the side contacting the thicker portion of the battery cell 100 to the side contacting the portion of the battery cell 100 where the thickness decreases. According to the above-described embodiment of the present disclosure, the compression member 200 can compensate for the thickness decrease of the battery cell 100 to make the thickness deviation of the battery cell 100 uniform.

[0071] Simultaneously, the compression member 200 may include a fluid F and an external material forming the outer surface of the compression member 200 and containing the fluid F. The external material may be configured in a bag-like shape, such that its interior is filled with the fluid F. In this case, at least a portion of the external material may protrude to form a protrusion 210, and the fluid F may be contained within the protrusion 210. The remaining portion, excluding the protrusion 210, may be defined as a joint. The joint serves to prevent the fluid F from flowing out of the protrusion 210. The joint may be formed by folding a piece of external material and heating its overlapping portion. Alternatively, the joint may be formed by overlapping two pieces of external material and then heating them.

[0072] The outer material can be configured as multiple layers. The innermost layer of the outer material can be made of polypropylene (PP). Therefore, the joints can be sealed by heat. Furthermore, the outermost layer of the outer material can be formed of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). As a result, insulation with the battery cell 100 is ensured. Additionally, a metal layer such as aluminum can be included between the innermost and outermost layers of the outer material. Therefore, the rigidity of the compression member 200 is ensured. Furthermore, a nylon layer can be included between the innermost and outermost layers of the outer material.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a front view of a partial configuration of a battery module with a compression member applied according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module incorporating a compression member according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0074] The protrusion 210 may be formed to correspond to a location in the battery cell 100 where a reduction in thickness occurs. The reduction in thickness of the battery cell 100 caused by the sliding of the electrodes and separator typically occurs at the edge of the battery cell 100. Therefore, the protrusion 210 may be formed at the edge of the compression member 200. Here, the edge of the compression member 200 may refer to a side surface along the periphery of the compression member 200.

[0075] At the same time, refer to Figure 5 Each of the plurality of battery cells 100 may have an electrode terminal 110. The electrode terminal 110 may be connected to an electrode assembly and configured to extend to the outside of the battery housing.

[0076] A pair of electrode terminals 110 may be provided, and the pair of electrode terminals 110 may extend to both ends of the battery cell 100 (i.e., extend in the longitudinal direction (±Y-axis direction)). In this case, the pair of electrode terminals 110 may be a positive lead and a negative lead. If desired, the battery cell 100 may be configured such that the two electrode terminals 110 are located only at one end in the Y-axis direction (e.g., at the end in the +Y-axis direction).

[0077] In this configuration, the protrusion 210 can be provided on the side where the electrode terminal 110 is located. According to the configuration described above in this disclosure, it is possible to effectively prevent the electrodes and separators inside the electrode assembly from sliding relative to each other on the side where the electrode terminal 110 is located. As described above, the reduction in the thickness of the battery cell 100 can be compensated on the side where the electrode terminal 110 is located, thereby effectively preventing uneven thickness of the battery cell 100.

[0078] Specifically, the protrusion 210 may include a first protrusion 211 disposed on the end side of the compression member 200 along its longitudinal direction. Here, the longitudinal direction may refer to the length direction of the compression member 200 (±Y-axis direction in the figure). A plurality of first protrusions 211 may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. For example, as... Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, two first protrusions 211 may be provided on the two longitudinal end sides.

[0079] Furthermore, the first protrusion 211 can be configured to extend in the height direction of the compression member 200. That is, the first protrusion 211 can be configured to extend in a transverse direction (height direction or Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. According to the configuration of the embodiment of this disclosure described above, the reduction in thickness of the battery cell 100 in the height direction can be compensated. Specifically, a path for the fluid F to move in the transverse direction can be provided inside the first protrusion 211.

[0080] The protrusion 210 may further include a second protrusion 212. The second protrusion 212 may be configured to extend orthogonally to the first protrusion 211. That is, the second protrusion 212 may be provided on the lateral end side of the compression member 200. The second protrusion 212 may be configured to extend in the longitudinal direction of the compression member 200.

[0081] According to the configuration described above in this disclosure, the thickness reduction occurring at both lateral ends of the battery cell 100 can also be compensated for in the longitudinal direction. Furthermore, if the thickness reduction deviation of the battery cell 100 is large at both longitudinal ends, a path for the fluid F to flow in the longitudinal direction can be provided inside the first protrusion 211. As a result, according to the configuration described above in this disclosure, the balance of the fluid F disposed inside the first protrusion 211 at both longitudinal ends can be ensured, thereby uniformly pressurizing the battery cell 100 from both sides.

[0082] The plurality of second protrusions 212 can be configured to be spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction. For example, two second protrusions 212 can be provided on both end sides in the lateral direction. That is, as Figure 5As shown, the two first protrusions 211 and the two second protrusions 212 can be configured to be connected to each other. Therefore, the fluid F can move freely between the first protrusions 211 and the second protrusions 212. According to the configuration of the above embodiment of this disclosure, since protrusions 210 are provided at all four edges, the fluid F can move along the periphery of the compression member 200.

[0083] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 5 As shown, the protrusion 210 can be configured as a square ring with a hollow central portion. When expansion occurs in the battery cell 100 during charge / discharge cycles, the center of the battery cell 100 typically expands outward more than its edges. According to the configuration of the embodiment described above in this disclosure, since the center of the protrusion 210 is hollow, the center of the battery cell 100 can provide a space for expansion when the battery cell 100 expands.

[0084] At the same time, refer to Figure 5 The width W1 of the first protrusion 211 can be configured to be greater than the width W2 of the second protrusion 212. That is, the area of ​​the first protrusion 211 in contact with the battery cell 100 can be configured to be greater than the area of ​​the second protrusion 212 in contact with the battery cell 100. In this case, a path for longitudinal flow can also be provided inside the first protrusion 211. As a result, the area where the first protrusion 211 can pressurize the two longitudinal ends of the battery cell 100 (particularly the electrode terminal 110 side) can be increased. Therefore, the first protrusion 211 can apply pressure more uniformly to the two longitudinal ends of the battery cell 100, thereby minimizing the thickness deviation of the battery cell 100.

[0085] Figure 7 This is a front view of a partial configuration of a battery module with a compression member applied according to another embodiment of this disclosure, and Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module incorporating a compression member according to another embodiment of this disclosure. Furthermore, Figure 9 This is a front view of a partial configuration of a battery module with a compression member applied according to another embodiment of this disclosure.

[0086] According to another embodiment of this disclosure, the protrusion 210 may further include a third protrusion 213. The third protrusion 213 may be disposed at the center of the compression member 200. For example, as Figure 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the third protrusion 213 may be disposed between the two first protrusions 211. Furthermore, the third protrusion 213 may be disposed between the two second protrusions 212.

[0087] In addition, refer to Figure 8The third protrusion 213 can be configured such that its protruding length is less than the length by which the first protrusion 211 and / or the second protrusion 212 protrude outward from the compression member 200. According to the configuration described above in this disclosure, when the battery cell 100 expands, the increased thickness at the center of the battery cell 100 can be absorbed. As a result, excessive expansion of the center of the battery cell 100 can be prevented.

[0088] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 9 The third protrusion 213 can be configured to extend in the same direction as the second protrusion 212. That is, the third protrusion 213 can be configured to extend in the longitudinal direction. In other words, the third protrusion 213 can be configured as a rectangle extending along its long side. In this case, the third protrusion 213 can be configured to be shorter than the second protrusion 212.

[0089] According to the configuration described above in this disclosure, since the third protrusion 213 is configured to extend in the length direction of the battery cell 100, it can more effectively absorb the expansion of the center of the battery cell 100.

[0090] Meanwhile, according to another embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 9 In the illustrated embodiment, the first protrusion 211 can be configured such that its width gradually increases towards the center. According to the configuration described above in this disclosure, the reduction in thickness at the center of the battery cell 100 can be compensated for more effectively.

[0091] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, showing that a flame occurring in the battery cell is suppressed by fluid inside a compression member.

[0092] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the fluid F inside the compression member 200 may include a fluid with non-Newtonian properties.

[0093] For example, fluid F can be configured as a colloidal solution. That is, fluid F can exhibit thixotropy. Thixotropy is the phenomenon that the viscosity of a polymer material solution changes due to external force. Specifically, the viscosity of a thixotropic fluid decreases when an external force is applied and increases when no external force is applied. Therefore, fluid F configured as a colloidal solution, etc., can change from a gel state to a sol state when an external force is applied, thereby moving within a compression member.

[0094] Simultaneously, the compression member 200 can be configured such that the fluid F therein can flow out of the compression member 200 due to heat or pressure. For example, a portion of the external material may melt, allowing the fluid F to flow out through the joint. In the event of a flame inside the battery module 10, the fluid F can be exposed to the outside of the compression member 200 to suppress the flame.

[0095] Therefore, fluid F can be configured to include at least one of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3). According to the configuration described above, when magnesium hydroxide or aluminum hydroxide is burned by a flame, water (H2O) is produced to extinguish the flame.

[0096] Therefore, according to the configuration described above in this disclosure, a flame generated when a thermal event occurs in a particular battery cell 100 can be initially extinguished, thus preventing thermal damage to other battery cells 100. In particular, according to this aspect of the disclosure, the propagation of thermal runaway in the battery module 10 can be effectively prevented or delayed, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery module 10.

[0097] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include one or more battery modules 10 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above. A battery pack according to the present disclosure may also include components of a battery pack known at the time of filing of this disclosure, such as a battery management system (BMS) for integrated control of the charging and discharging of one or more battery modules, current sensors, and fuses.

[0098] Furthermore, in the battery pack according to this disclosure, the module housing 300 described above can be used as a battery pack housing. In this case, battery pack components such as BMS, busbars, or relays can be included inside the module housing 300. In this case, since the battery cells 100 are stored directly in the battery pack housing, it is also referred to as a "cell-to-battery pack" type.

[0099] A vehicle according to an embodiment of this disclosure may include one or more battery packs or battery modules according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The vehicle according to this disclosure may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle includes four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. The vehicle operates by receiving electricity from the battery pack or battery module 10 according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0100] As described above, although this disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, this disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains can make various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical concept of this disclosure and the equivalents of the claims which are to be described below.

Claims

1. A battery module, the battery module comprising: Multiple battery cells; as well as A compression member is disposed between the plurality of battery cells, and the compression member is filled with fluid in a movable manner, and the compression member is configured to partially deform its shape due to external pressure.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The compression member includes a protrusion, at least a portion of which protrudes outward to form an internal path through which the fluid can move.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, in, The protrusion is configured to contact the battery cells disposed on both sides of the compression member.

4. The battery module according to claim 2, in, The protrusion is formed on the edge of the compression member.

5. The battery module according to claim 2, in, The protrusion includes a first protrusion disposed on the longitudinal end side of the compression member.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, in, The first protrusion is configured to extend in the height direction of the compression member.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The protrusion also includes a second protrusion configured to extend orthogonally to the first protrusion.

8. The battery module according to claim 7, in, The width of the first protrusion is configured to be greater than the width of the second protrusion.

9. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The protrusion also includes a third protrusion located at the center of the compression member.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fluid includes fluids with non-Newtonian properties.

11. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fluid is configured as a colloidal solution.

12. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The compression member is configured such that the fluid filling the compression member flows out to the outside due to heat or pressure.

13. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fluid is configured to include at least one of magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide.

14. A battery pack comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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