Battery pack case, battery pack, and vehicle including same

Abstract

A battery pack case, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the battery pack are disclosed. The battery pack case includes: a bottom plate forming a surface of the battery pack case and formed with a through hole to communicate an internal space of the battery pack case with the outside; an outer plate spaced apart from an outer surface of the bottom plate and configured to prevent the through hole from being exposed to the outside and define a separation space between the bottom plate and the outer plate; and a discharge valve provided on the outer plate to selectively discharge the fluid in the separation space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a battery pack housing, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the battery pack, which facilitates the discharge of gases generated in the event of a fire within the battery pack housing, while effectively discharging cooling medium leaking from a cooling device installed inside the battery pack housing to prevent short circuits in the battery cells. Background Technology

[0002] To address environmental issues such as recent extreme climate change, technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions are being actively developed. To reduce carbon emissions, energy can be produced using environmentally friendly methods instead of fossil fuels. The produced energy needs to be stored as electricity for use in vehicles, various industrial sites, and homes.

[0003] In terms of carbon reduction, batteries capable of storing and acquiring electrical energy can be used to effectively utilize electrical energy. Therefore, sufficient battery performance can be ensured to fully store and use electrical energy without causing inconvenience.

[0004] Batteries primarily function based on the redox reactions of metal ions. To improve battery capacity, charge / discharge performance, and efficiency, metal ions are used in high densities. Furthermore, extensive research is being conducted on materials that constitute the electrolyte and on solid electrolytes. However, a problem exists: as battery performance improves, stability often decreases. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Technical issues

[0006] This disclosure provides a battery pack housing, a battery pack, and a vehicle including the battery pack, which facilitates the venting of gases generated in the event of a fire in a specific battery cell or battery module within the battery pack housing, while effectively venting cooling medium leaking from a cooling device installed within the battery pack housing to prevent or suppress short circuits, thereby improving battery safety.

[0007] The technical problems to be solved by this disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand from the following description other technical problems not mentioned.

[0008] Technical solution

[0009] The battery pack housing according to this disclosure includes: a base plate forming one surface of the battery pack housing and having a through hole formed therein, the through hole being configured to communicate an internal space of the battery pack housing with an external environment; an outer plate spaced apart from the outer surface of the base plate and configured to prevent the through hole from being exposed to the outside, and the outer plate defining a separation space between the base plate and the outer plate; and a drain valve disposed on the outer plate to selectively drain fluid in the separation space.

[0010] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the outer panel may have sidewalls formed along its periphery and be connected to the bottom plate through the sidewalls to form the separation space.

[0011] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the outer plate may be formed such that a portion thereof corresponding to the through hole in the bottom plate protrudes outward from the battery pack housing.

[0012] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the discharge valve of the outer plate may be formed at a position corresponding to the through hole of the bottom plate.

[0013] In the case of the battery pack housing according to the present disclosure, the outer plate may be formed to be inclined outward with a position corresponding to the through hole as the center, such that the height of the separation space decreases outward with a position corresponding to the through hole as the center.

[0014] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the discharge valve of the outer plate can be located at the position where the separation distance between the bottom plate and the outer plate is the greatest.

[0015] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the outer panel may be formed with a drain valve protector.

[0016] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the discharge valve protector may be formed along the outer peripheral surface of the discharge valve at the location where the discharge valve is formed, and the discharge valve protector is formed to be higher than the height of the discharge valve.

[0017] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the discharge valve protector can be integrally formed with the outer panel.

[0018] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the discharge valve of the outer panel may be covered by a valve cover, and the valve cover covers the discharge valve on the outside of the outer panel.

[0019] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the valve cover can be connected to the outer plate in either the width direction or the length direction of the outer plate.

[0020] In the case of the battery pack housing according to the present disclosure, the base plate may form the bottom surface of the battery pack housing, the battery pack housing may have battery components built inside, and the through holes of the base plate are formed at the positions between the plurality of battery components built into the battery pack housing.

[0021] In the case of the battery pack housing according to the present disclosure, a cooling channel may be provided between the battery assembly built into the battery pack housing and the base plate, and the through hole of the base plate is formed at a position corresponding to the cooling port of the cooling channel or the cooling hose connected to the cooling port, so that the cooling medium leaking from the cooling port or the cooling hose can flow into the through hole due to its own weight.

[0022] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the through holes of the base plate may be formed with a filter cover or filter screen to prevent foreign objects from entering the separation space.

[0023] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the filter cover can be installed at a position of the through hole facing the interior space of the battery pack housing, and the filter screen can be formed at a position of the through hole facing the exterior of the battery pack housing.

[0024] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, a flange may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole in such a way that it protrudes toward the inside of the through hole, and the filter cover is attached to the flange.

[0025] In the case of the battery pack housing according to the present disclosure, a plurality of supports may be formed on the flange in such a way that they protrude toward the filter cover, the filter cover being disposed on the supports such that the filter cover and the flange are spaced apart from each other.

[0026] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the filter cover can be fixed to the support member and thus connected to the base plate.

[0027] In the case of the battery pack housing according to this disclosure, the filter cover may be plate-shaped and disposed inside the through hole, the outer peripheral surface of the filter cover being spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the through hole, and the separation space communicating with the internal space of the battery pack housing through the spaced gap.

[0028] In the case of the battery pack housing according to the present disclosure, the outer panel may be provided with a sealing portion along its periphery, and may be connected to the bottom plate when the sealing portion is located between the outer panel and the bottom plate.

[0029] The battery pack according to this disclosure includes the aforementioned battery pack housing.

[0030] The vehicle according to this disclosure includes the aforementioned battery pack housing.

[0031] Technical effect

[0032] According to the battery pack housing, battery pack, and vehicle including the battery pack disclosed herein, when a fire occurs in the battery pack equipped with an internal cooling device, it can help to discharge the gases generated by the fire, and at the same time effectively discharge the cooling medium leaking from the cooling device, thereby preventing or suppressing damage such as short circuits in the battery pack caused by the leaked cooling medium.

[0033] The effects achievable by this disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a partial cross-sectional view showing a battery pack housing according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The image shows a top view of the battery pack casing.

[0036] Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 A view of the through-hole in the battery pack housing.

[0037] Figure 4 It shows that it is installed in Figure 3 A view of the filter cover on the battery pack housing shown.

[0038] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 The image shows a cross-sectional view of the battery pack housing at the location of the through-hole.

[0039] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 The image shows a cross-sectional view of the battery pack housing at the location of the discharge valve.

[0040] Figure 7 It is shown in Figure 1 The view shown depicts the location of the discharge valve on the battery pack housing, forming a view of the discharge valve protector.

[0041] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 An enlarged view of the discharge valve protector of the battery pack housing is shown.

[0042] Figure 9 It is shown in Figure 1 The view shown depicts the valve cover at the location of the discharge valve on the battery pack housing.

[0043] Figure 10 It is shown in Figure 9 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the valve cover formed on the battery pack housing.

[0044] Figure 11 This shows the application. Figure 1The battery pack housing shown is a view of the battery pack and the vehicle. Detailed Implementation

[0045] In describing the embodiments disclosed herein, detailed descriptions of relevant known techniques will be omitted where it is determined that such detailed descriptions might obscure the essence of the embodiments disclosed herein. Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are provided only to facilitate understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein and are not intended to limit the technical ideas disclosed herein. All modifications, equivalents, and substitutions included within the spirit and scope of this disclosure should be understood to be included herein.

[0046] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular expression includes its plural expression. Terms such as “comprising” or “having” as used herein are intended to indicate the presence of the features, quantities, steps, operations, parts, elements or combinations thereof described herein, and should not be construed as excluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, quantities, steps, operations, parts, elements or combinations thereof.

[0047] In the following description, the suffixes "module" and "part" used for components are given or used interchangeably for ease of writing instructions only and do not inherently indicate any different meaning or function. When a component is mentioned as "connected to" or "linked to" another component, it should be understood that it can be directly connected to or linked to the other component, but there may also be intermediate components. On the other hand, when a component is mentioned as "directly connected to" or "directly linked to" another component, it should be understood that there are no intermediate components.

[0048] The embodiments disclosed herein will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regardless of the reference numerals, the same or similar parts will be given the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted.

[0049] Batteries used in vehicles, industry, and homes are manufactured in physical units called packs. A battery pack contains and seals multiple battery cells within a battery casing, thus preventing the spread of flames to the outside in the event of an accident such as thermal runaway, and protecting the internal battery cells from degradation or physical damage caused by external environmental factors.

[0050] A battery pack contains multiple battery cells in an intermediate form such as modules or assemblies (e.g., cell module assemblies (CMAs)). A battery module or assembly is constructed by assembling multiple battery cells into a single module or assembly, and multiple modules are secured within a housing to complete the battery pack. This allows for maintenance on a module or assembly basis during battery servicing, facilitating maintenance and repair.

[0051] A battery cell, which makes up a module or assembly, consists of a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and an electrolyte, and generates heat during the charging and discharging process. Therefore, effective heat dissipation may be necessary for the battery cell. Furthermore, from the perspective of the battery module or assembly and the battery pack, effective heat dissipation designs can be employed to prevent safety accidents.

[0052] Meanwhile, batteries can deteriorate due to manufacturing tolerances, overcharging and discharging, and aging. If battery deterioration continues unchecked, it may eventually lead to a fire. Therefore, proactive measures are needed to prevent battery fire hazards. To this end, battery status can be continuously measured and monitored to identify and resolve problems early and minimize damage in the event of unexpected issues.

[0053] For example, as battery degradation continues, the battery cells may heat up rapidly, leading to thermal runaway, which can produce gases or flames. When one battery cell experiences thermal runaway, it can trigger a chain reaction known as thermal propagation, where gases or flames spread to adjacent battery cells or battery modules. Therefore, when a specific battery cell or module experiences thermal runaway, it is necessary to effectively vent the gases produced by the runaway to the outside while preventing the flames from spreading to other components to ensure battery efficiency and safety.

[0054] Furthermore, if the battery pack casing is equipped with cooling devices installed to address potential battery degradation issues, an internal fire within the battery pack could cause cooling hoses and similar components to fail due to high temperatures. This could lead to leakage of cooling media or foreign objects within the battery pack casing.

[0055] When the leaked cooling medium or foreign matter is a conductive fluid, it may cause short circuits in battery cells, terminals, etc. Therefore, for battery pack casings equipped with internal cooling devices, this disclosure provides a technique that can effectively and quickly discharge leaked cooling medium or foreign matter to the outside to prevent short circuits in the event of a leak.

[0056] Batteries can heat up due to various reasons, such as prolonged use, external physical impact, overcharging, or over-discharging. When the battery cells inside the battery heat up due to these reasons, it can lead to damage to the entire battery or a decrease in efficiency. The battery cell cooling system plays a crucial role in ensuring battery efficiency and safety.

[0057] When a battery cell overheats and catches fire due to various reasons, the temperature rise can lead to thermal runaway, causing the battery cell to explode. Thermal runaway can trigger a chain reaction called heat propagation, in which gases or flames emitted from the battery cell rapidly spread to adjacent battery cells or battery modules, potentially causing the entire battery to catch fire.

[0058] Meanwhile, battery cells may short-circuit for various reasons. When a battery cell short-circuits, an abnormally high current flows instantaneously through the conductive cell, causing the temperature to rise. This can lead to the battery cell and surrounding components cracking or catching fire. Therefore, technologies can be employed to prevent or suppress battery cell short circuits.

[0059] Furthermore, in the event of thermal runaway, not only the battery cells but also the cooling systems and other devices installed inside the battery pack may be damaged under high temperature or high pressure. Such damage to the cooling systems may lead to leakage of the cooling medium or foreign matter present in the cooling system. The cooling medium or foreign matter discharged from the cooling system may cause a short circuit in the battery cells inside the battery pack casing.

[0060] Therefore, this disclosure provides a technology that can facilitate the discharge of gases generated during thermal runaway of a specific battery cell or battery module, as well as cooling media leaking from the cooling device, to the outside, while filtering out flames and foreign objects generated during thermal runaway, thereby improving battery stability.

[0061] If a vent valve is installed in the front-to-back direction of the battery pack to release gases generated during thermal runaway and cooling media leaked due to damage to the cooling device caused by thermal runaway, the smooth discharge of the cooling media and other substances may not occur due to the characteristic of the cooling media accumulating at the bottom of the battery pack, thus leading to additional damage inside the battery pack (such as heat propagation and electrical short circuits).

[0062] This disclosure provides a battery pack housing 10, wherein an outer panel 300 is mounted on one side (such as the bottom) of the battery pack BP to collect cooling medium leaking from a damaged cooling device during thermal runaway, and a vent valve 500 is formed on the outer panel 300 to ensure that the gases and cooling medium generated during thermal runaway and the cooling medium leaking from the damaged cooling device can be effectively vented to the outside even when they accumulate at the bottom.

[0063] By effectively discharging the gas and cooling medium accumulated at the bottom of the battery pack BP through the vent valve 500 installed at the bottom, further damage (such as heat transfer and electrical short circuits) within the battery pack BP can be prevented or suppressed. The vent valve 500 can be installed not only on the outer plate 300 at the bottom of the battery pack BP, but also in the front-rear direction of the battery pack BP, which can further enhance the venting effect of generated gas and leaked cooling medium.

[0064] like Figure 1As shown, the battery pack housing 10 of this disclosure includes: a base plate 100 of the battery pack BP, which forms the lower surface of the battery pack housing 10 and has a through hole 120 formed to communicate the internal space of the battery pack housing 10 with the outside; an outer plate 300, which is spaced apart from the outer surface of the base plate 100 and configured to prevent the through hole 120 from being exposed to the outside, and which defines a separation space 110 between the base plate 100 and the outer plate 300; and a discharge valve 500 disposed on the outer plate 300 to selectively discharge gases and leaked cooling media collected in the separation space 110 according to the internal pressure of the separation space 110. For example, when the internal pressure of the separation space 110 reaches a preset value, the discharge valve 500 automatically switches to an open state, allowing the gases and leaked cooling media collected in the separation space 110 to be discharged.

[0065] The battery pack housing 10 contains multiple battery modules. The term "battery module" as used in this disclosure refers to an integral assembly of multiple battery cells, and includes, for example, concepts such as battery modules (where battery cells are assembled in a housing or casing) and battery half-assemblies with straps or similar components. Furthermore, the concept of a cell-to-pack (CTP) structure is included, where multiple battery cells are assembled and directly secured within the battery pack housing 10 without requiring a battery module. A battery module, referred to herein as a "battery module," includes various forms of unit assemblies that assemble multiple battery cells for mounting into the battery pack housing 10.

[0066] The battery cells installed inside the battery pack housing 10 may heat up due to external impacts or heat generated during charging and discharging, requiring effective cooling. Insufficient cooling of the battery cells can impair their efficiency and safety, thus affecting overall battery performance. Therefore, appropriate cooling of the battery cells may be necessary.

[0067] According to one embodiment of this disclosure, such as Figure 1 As shown, a cooling channel 700 is installed below the battery assembly as a battery cell cooling device. A cooling medium, such as cooling water, circulates inside the cooling channel 700 to cool the battery assembly through direct heat conduction. By using this direct heat conduction cooling channel, cooling efficiency can be improved, thereby enhancing battery efficiency and safety.

[0068] In addition, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2The cooling channel 700 is equipped with a cooling hose 740 to effectively manage the inflow and outflow of the cooling medium. The cooling medium flows through the cooling hose 740 to cool the battery cells. The cooling hose 740 is then connected to the cooling channel 700 via a cooling port 720. The cooling port 720 serves as a device for guiding the cooling medium flowing through the cooling hose 740 to the cooling channel 700, promoting efficient flow of the cooling medium. In this disclosure, in addition to the cooling channel 700, cooling hose 740, and cooling port 720, various types of cooling devices can be configured to address the heat generation problem of the battery cells.

[0069] In the case of cooling channels 700, cooling hoses 740 and cooling ports 720, the durability of these components may be compromised when their connection to other devices inside the battery pack BP is incomplete, or when the connection between them weakens over time, or when a fire occurs inside the battery pack BP, causing them to melt and resulting in leakage of cooling medium or foreign matter.

[0070] When cooling medium or foreign matter leaks from cooling devices (such as cooling channels 700, cooling hoses 740, or cooling ports 720) inside the battery pack housing 10, it may cause problems such as damage to the electrical insulation between multiple battery cells and terminals or short circuits. Therefore, when cooling devices are installed inside the battery pack housing 10, it may be necessary to promote the discharge of cooling material to the outside while effectively filtering out foreign matter during battery anomalies such as thermal runaway.

[0071] Simultaneously, in the event of thermal runaway in a specific battery cell or module installed inside the battery pack housing 10, gas or flames may be generated within the battery cell or module. These gases or flames may then propagate to adjacent battery cells or modules in a chain reaction, causing heat propagation and leading to a fire inside the battery pack housing 10.

[0072] Therefore, when a specific battery cell or battery module experiences thermal runaway, it is necessary to smoothly discharge the gas leaking from the battery cell or battery module to the outside, and at the same time, it is necessary to effectively filter the flame generated by the battery cell or battery module to prevent or suppress secondary damage to the inside and outside of the battery.

[0073] Therefore, in this disclosure, as Figure 3 As shown, a through hole 120 is formed in the base plate 100, through which gas generated by thermal runaway or cooling medium leaking from a cooling device damaged by thermal runaway can pass. The base plate 100 in the illustrated embodiment or in this disclosure is described as forming the bottom surface of the battery pack housing, but the base plate 100 is not necessarily limited to the position of the bottom surface, and may also be positioned in various directions of the battery pack housing where the battery components are mounted.

[0074] Back Figure 1 A base plate 100 forms the bottom surface of the battery pack housing 10, and multiple battery modules are contained within the battery pack housing 10. Through holes 120 in the base plate 100 are formed between the multiple battery modules inside the battery pack housing 10. Cooling channels 700 are then provided between the battery modules inside the battery pack housing 10 and the base plate 100 to achieve direct cooling of the battery modules and battery cells. Since cooling devices such as cooling channels 700, cooling hoses 740, or cooling ports 720 are installed on one side, including the bottom of the battery modules, positioning the through holes 120 in the base plate 10 between the battery modules inside the battery pack housing 10 allows gases generated by each battery module or cooling media leaking from cooling devices damaged by thermal runaway to pass through the through holes 120.

[0075] Therefore, according to one implementation method, such as Figure 1 As shown, the through hole 120 of the base plate 100 is formed at a position corresponding to the cooling port 720 of the cooling channel 700 or the cooling hose 740 connected to the cooling port 720, so that the cooling medium or foreign matter leaking from the cooling port 720 or the cooling hose 740 flows into the through hole 120 due to its own weight. By forming the through hole 120 of the base plate 100 at a position corresponding to the cooling port 720 or the cooling hose 740, the cooling medium leaking due to thermal runaway can be effectively discharged to the outside of the battery pack housing 10, and the foreign matter contained in the leaked cooling medium can be filtered by a filter installed in the through hole.

[0076] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 The through-hole 120 of the base plate 100 is equipped with a filter cover 800 or a filter screen 900. Since the through-hole 120 of the base plate 100 is used not only to discharge gases generated by thermal runaway, but also to discharge cooling medium leaked from the cooling device, the filter cover 800 is mainly configured to filter flames or foreign objects, and the filter screen 900 is secondarily configured to minimize the flow of flames or foreign objects into the outer plate 300, ensuring that only gases and cooling medium enter the through-hole 120.

[0077] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The filter cover 800 is installed in the through hole 120 facing the internal space of the battery pack housing 10 to effectively seal a portion of the through hole 120, while the filter screen 900 is installed in the through hole 120 facing the outer plate 300 to prevent or inhibit foreign objects from entering the separation space 110.

[0078] like Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the filter cover 800 is plate-shaped and disposed inside the through hole 120. The outer peripheral surface of the filter cover 800 is spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 120 to form a gap therebetween. This gap allows the internal space of the battery pack housing 10 to communicate with the separation space 110, thereby allowing gases generated by thermal runaway or cooling media leaking from the cooling device inside the battery pack housing 10 to flow into the through hole 120.

[0079] The filter cover 800, disposed within the internal space of the battery pack housing 10, is made of refractory metal to ensure durability even in the event of abnormal conditions such as thermal runaway within the battery pack housing 10. In one embodiment, the filter cover 800 may be made of aluminum, which is easy to form, lightweight, and highly durable.

[0080] At the same time, such as Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, a filter screen 900, serving as a secondary filtration device, is disposed in a through-hole 120 of the base plate 100 to prevent or inhibit foreign objects from entering the separation space 110. The filter screen 900 is formed in the outward-facing direction of the through-hole 120 to secondaryly prevent or inhibit foreign objects that the filter cover 800, serving as the primary filtration device, from entering the separation space 110. The filter screen 900 is characterized, for example, as a mesh structure that can effectively prevent and reduce the entry of foreign objects into the separation space 110. Like the filter cover 800, the filter screen 900 may also be made of a refractory material to prevent or inhibit melting or damage by flame in the event of an abnormal situation inside the battery pack housing 10.

[0081] In addition, such as Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, a flange 140 can be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole 120 of the base plate 100 to protrude inwards from the through hole 120. The flange 140 not only serves to connect the filter cover 800 to the through hole 120, but also acts as an indirect barrier to prevent or inhibit the entry of flames or foreign objects through the through hole 120. Therefore, the flange 140 can be integrally formed with the base plate 100 when the through hole 120 is formed.

[0082] Reference Figure 3 A plurality of supports 160 are formed on the flange 140, such that the filter cover 800 is placed on the supports 160 and thus fixed in the through hole 120. In this case, the filter cover 800 is spaced apart from the flange 140, so that the outer peripheral surface of the filter cover 800 can be spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 120. This allows gas or leaked cooling medium to flow in through the through hole 120.

[0083] In addition, such as Figure 5As shown, when the filter cover 800 is fixed in the through hole 120 using the support 160 located on the flange 140, the filter cover 800 can be connected to the base plate 100. Because the filter cover 800 is fixed in the through hole 120 with a gap, there is a risk that the filter cover 800 may detach from the through hole 120 under high temperature or high pressure conditions caused by battery malfunction. Therefore, as Figure 5 As shown, the filter cover 800 can be secured to the base plate 100 using bolts 820, thereby preventing or inhibiting the filter cover 800 from detaching. This prevents or inhibits flames generated during thermal runaway or foreign matter leaking from the cooling device from entering the separation space 110 between the base plate 100 and the outer plate 300. The connection method is not limited to the embodiment shown; various fastening methods can be used to connect the filter cover 800 to the base plate 100, as long as the filter cover 800 can be effectively connected and secured to the base plate 100.

[0084] The filter cover 800 and filter screen 900 formed in the through-hole 120 not only serve to discharge only the generated gases or cooling media to the outside in the event of a fire such as thermal runaway inside the battery pack housing 10, while preventing or inhibiting the discharge of foreign objects or flames to the outside, but also serve to prevent or inhibit the backflow of foreign objects into the battery pack housing 10, thereby isolating the internal environment of the battery pack housing 10 from the outside. This contributes to achieving good thermal management.

[0085] like Figure 1 As shown, the outer plate 300 is spaced apart from the outer surface of the base plate 100 to prevent the through-hole 120 of the base plate 100 from being exposed to the outside, while the exhaust valve 500 formed on the outer plate 300 discharges gas generated by thermal runaway or leaked cooling medium to the outside. For this purpose, the outer plate 300 has a sidewall formed along its periphery and is connected to the base plate 100 at the sidewall to define the separation space 110.

[0086] Reference Figure 1 Under normal conditions, the separation space 110 between the base plate 100 and the outer plate 300 serves as an empty space for absorbing or dispersing impacts input from below, and stores fluids such as gases or cooling media discharged through the through-hole 120. Then, when thermal runaway occurs inside the battery pack housing 10, the separation space 110 stores the gases or cooling media leaking through the through-hole 120 to help these gases or cooling media be discharged to the outside under certain pressure through the discharge valve 500.

[0087] Meanwhile, in the event of a fire caused by flames or foreign objects that the filter cover 800 and filter screen 900 of the through-hole 120 fail to intercept, the outer plate 300, connected to, for example, the bottom of the battery pack housing 10, uses a cooling medium to prevent or suppress the spread of fire to the outside. For example, the outer plate 300 also serves as a fire-resistant or flame-retardant wall to prevent or suppress the spread of fire originating inside the battery pack housing 10 to the outside.

[0088] Since the outer panel 300 needs to store fluids such as gas or cooling media that have passed through the through-hole 120, the portion of the outer panel 300 corresponding to the through-hole 120 of the base plate 100 can be configured to protrude outward from the battery pack housing 10, such as... Figure 6 As shown. For example, as Figure 6 As shown, the outer plate 300 may have a concave plate shape that connects to the base plate 100, thereby providing an effective storage area for gases or cooling media emitted from the battery pack housing 10.

[0089] like Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown, the outer panel 300 is equipped with a discharge valve 500 that operates under a certain pressure. The discharge valve 500 is a pressure relief valve that automatically opens when the pressure inside the outer panel 300 exceeds a certain value to discharge the gas or cooling medium stored inside the outer panel 300, thereby preventing or suppressing additional battery abnormalities, including short circuits, inside the battery pack housing 10.

[0090] Therefore, as Figure 1 As shown, the discharge valve 500 can be formed on the outer plate 300 at a position corresponding to the through hole 120 of the bottom plate 100, so as to ensure that the gas or cooling medium discharged through the through hole 120 can be stored around the discharge valve 500 positioned corresponding to the through hole 120, and when the pressure of the stored gas or cooling medium exceeds a certain value, the gas or cooling medium can be smoothly discharged to the outside as the discharge valve 500 opens.

[0091] As described above, the portion of the outer plate 300 corresponding to the through hole 120 formed in the base plate 100 protrudes outward the most, therefore the discharge valve 500 is formed at the outermost protruding portion of the outer plate 300, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 6 As shown. This means that when the outer panel 300 is located at the bottom of the battery pack housing 10, the vent valve 500 is located at the lowest part of the outer panel 300, as shown. Figure 6 As shown. Therefore, this arrangement of the discharge valve 500 at the lowest part of the outer plate 300 ensures that when the pressure of the fluid (such as gas or cooling medium) stored inside the outer plate 300 exceeds a certain value, the discharge valve 500 can accurately respond to the internal pressure, thereby promoting the discharge of gas or cooling medium.

[0092] Reference Figure 6 and Figure 7The outer plate 300 can be formed to slope outward from the portion corresponding to the through hole 120, such that the height of the separation space 110 can decrease outward from the portion corresponding to the through hole 120. In one embodiment, the portion of the outer plate 300 corresponding to the through hole 120 protrudes outward the most, and the discharge valve 500 on the outer plate 300 is located at the position where the separation distance between the base plate 100 and the outer plate 300 is the largest, such as... Figure 6 As shown. This configuration ensures that the discharge valve 500 responds accurately to the pressure of the gas or cooling medium stored inside the outer panel 300.

[0093] The outer panel 300 with an outward tilt design forms as follows Figure 6 and Figure 7 The inclined surface 320, as shown, naturally guides gas or cooling medium passing through the through-hole 120 toward the discharge valve 500 on the outer panel 300. For example, since batteries used in living environments such as vehicle V are not always positioned on a flat surface, providing an inclined surface 320 on the outer panel 300 can guide the gas discharged through the through-hole 120 or the leaked cooling medium to accumulate at the center point of the outer panel 300 (where the discharge valve 500 is located), thereby preventing or suppressing any delay in the discharge of gas or cooling medium from the discharge valve 500.

[0094] Considering the side of the base plate 100 that forms the battery pack housing, it can be made of a metallic material. In one embodiment, it can be made of aluminum, which is easy to form, has excellent durability, and enhances the connection with surrounding panels or components.

[0095] The outer panel 300 is configured to ensure adequate rigidity because it is attached to the outside of the battery pack housing 10 and exposed to the outside. For example, the outer panel 300 may be made of a high-strength metallic material. In one embodiment, the outer panel 300 may be made of stainless steel to provide high rigidity while preventing or inhibiting corrosion caused by exposure to the environment.

[0096] The base plate 100 can be made of a material with lower rigidity than the outer plate 300, and therefore can be formed to be thicker than the outer plate 300 to achieve a balance in structural performance. By differentiating the material and thickness of each plate in this way, the overall weight, strength, and safety of the battery can be optimized.

[0097] Since the discharge valve 500 is formed on the outer plate 300 and is also connected to the exposed outer surface of the outer plate 300, it is necessary to prevent or suppress damage to the discharge valve 500. Therefore, in this disclosure, as... Figure 7 and Figure 8As shown, a protector 520 for the discharge valve 500 is mounted on the outer plate 300. The protector 520 for the discharge valve 500 can be manufactured by forming the outer plate 300 such that a portion of it protrudes along the outer peripheral surface of the discharge valve 500 higher than the height of the discharge valve 500, as shown. Figure 8 As shown. The protector 520 for the discharge valve 500 serves as a protective wall surrounding the discharge valve 500 at a position higher than the discharge valve 500, thereby absorbing external impacts and preventing or inhibiting the backflow of external foreign objects into the discharge valve 500.

[0098] Therefore, as Figure 7 As shown, by integrally molding the protector 520 for the drain valve 500 with the outer plate 300 while considering the position of the drain valve 500 mounted on the outer plate 300, the durability of both the outer plate 300 and the protector 520 for the drain valve 500 can be improved. In another embodiment, instead of integrally molding with the outer plate 300, a separate device can be formed along the outer peripheral surface of the drain valve 500 and fastened to the outer plate 300 to protect the drain valve 500.

[0099] Another measure to protect the discharge valve 500, which is connected to the outside of the outer panel 300, is the valve cover 540. For example... Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the valve cover 540 covers the entire exposed surface of the discharge valve 500 and is fixedly connected to the outer plate 300. The valve cover 540 can be configured as follows: Figure 9 The outer panel 300 is formed and connected along its width direction, or it can be connected along its length direction as required by the design.

[0100] The valve cover 540 can cover the discharge valve 500 in a form where its two sides are open along the length or width of the outer plate 300. By forming a valve cover 540 with two open sides, the gas or cooling medium discharged through the discharge valve 500 can be smoothly discharged to the outside, while effectively covering the discharge valve 500 exposed to the outside. At the same time, various forms of valve cover 540 (such as a valve cover 540 with two open sides and a completely closed valve cover) can be considered, as long as they can smoothly discharge the gas discharged through the discharge valve 500 or the leaked cooling medium to the outside.

[0101] like Figure 6 or Figure 10 As shown, the outer plate 300 may be provided with sealing parts 360 along its periphery, and bolts 340 may be used to connect the sealing parts 360 to the base plate 100, thereby preventing or inhibiting the propagation of gas or cooling medium to the outside, and preventing or reducing the reverse inflow of foreign matter from the outside.

[0102] Figure 11A battery pack BP using the battery pack housing of this disclosure is shown mounted in a vehicle V. Besides vehicles V, the battery pack BP of this disclosure can also be applied to various industries, an example of which is an energy storage system (ESS).

[0103] According to the battery pack housing disclosed herein, and the battery pack BP and vehicle V including the battery pack housing, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery pack housing with an internal cooling device, the gas generated by the thermal runaway or the cooling medium leaked due to damage to the cooling device is effectively discharged to the outside through the discharge valve 500, thereby preventing or suppressing short circuits between battery cells and heat propagation to adjacent battery cells.

[0104] In the foregoing description, although the present disclosure has been described by means of limited embodiments and accompanying drawings, the foregoing description is merely an example of the technical concept of the present disclosure, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A battery pack housing, the battery pack housing comprising: A base plate, which forms the surface of the battery pack housing and has through holes to allow the internal space of the battery pack housing to communicate with the outside; An outer plate, which is spaced apart from the outer surface of the base plate and configured to prevent the through-hole from being exposed to the outside, and to define a separation space between the base plate and the outer plate; as well as A drain valve, disposed on the outer plate, is provided to selectively drain fluid from the separation space.

2. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The outer plate has sidewalls formed along its perimeter, and the bottom plate is connected through the sidewalls to form the separation space. The outer plate is formed such that a portion of it corresponding to the through hole in the bottom plate protrudes outward from the battery pack housing.

3. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The discharge valve of the outer plate is formed at a position corresponding to the through hole of the bottom plate.

4. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The outer plate is formed to tilt outward with the position corresponding to the through hole as the center, so that the height of the separation space decreases outward with the position corresponding to the through hole as the center.

5. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The discharge valve of the outer plate is located at the position where the separation distance between the bottom plate and the outer plate is the greatest.

6. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The outer panel is fitted with a discharge valve protector, and The drain valve protector is formed along the outer peripheral surface of the drain valve at the location where the drain valve is formed, and the drain valve protector is formed to be higher than the height of the drain valve.

7. The battery pack housing according to claim 6, wherein, The discharge valve protector is integrally formed with the outer panel.

8. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The discharge valve of the outer panel is covered by a valve cover, and the valve cover covers the discharge valve on the outside of the outer panel. The valve cover is connected to the outer plate along either the width direction or the length direction of the outer plate.

9. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The base plate forms the bottom surface of the battery pack housing, which houses battery components. The through-holes in the base plate are located between the multiple battery components housed within the battery pack housing. A cooling channel is provided between the battery assembly built into the battery pack housing and the base plate, and the through hole of the base plate is formed at a position corresponding to the cooling port of the cooling channel or the cooling hose connected to the cooling port, so that the cooling medium leaking from the cooling port or the cooling hose flows into the through hole due to its own weight.

10. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The through holes in the base plate form a filter cover or filter screen, thereby preventing foreign objects from entering the separation space, and The filter cover is installed at a position in the through hole facing the internal space of the battery pack housing, and the filter screen is formed at a position in the through hole facing the external space of the battery pack housing.

11. The battery pack housing according to claim 10, wherein, A flange is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the through hole in such a way that it protrudes toward the inside of the through hole, and the filter cover is attached to the flange. Multiple support members are formed on the flange in a manner that protrudes toward the filter cover. The filter cover is placed on the support member such that the filter cover and the flange are spaced apart from each other, or the filter cover is fixed to the support member and thus connected to the base plate.

12. The battery pack housing according to claim 11, wherein, The filter cover is plate-shaped and disposed inside the through hole. The outer peripheral surface of the filter cover is spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the through hole, and the separation space is connected to the internal space of the battery pack housing through the spaced gap.

13. The battery pack housing according to claim 1, wherein, The outer plate is provided with a sealing part along its periphery, and the outer plate is connected to the bottom plate when the sealing part is located between the outer plate and the bottom plate.

14. A battery pack comprising a battery pack housing according to claim 1.

15. A vehicle comprising the battery pack according to claim 14.

Images