Battery module, battery pack including same, and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a barrier member for separating the plurality of battery cells; and a module case that accommodates the plurality of battery cells and the barrier member, and is formed with a protrusion on one side surface such that at least a portion of the module case protrudes toward the barrier member.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a battery module capable of suppressing heat propagation inside the battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same.

[0002] This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0035410, filed on March 13, 2024, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BACKGROUND

[0003] Secondary batteries, which are easily applied according to product groups and have electrical characteristics such as high energy density, are commonly used in electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by an electric drive source, and in portable devices. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source for improving eco-friendliness and energy efficiency, since their main advantage is a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels, and another advantage is that no by-products are generated due to energy use.

[0004] The secondary batteries that are widely used at present include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-hydrogen batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and the like. When a higher output voltage is required, a battery module or a battery pack can be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series. In addition, a battery module or a battery pack can be configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in parallel to increase the charge and discharge capacity. Accordingly, the number of battery cells included in the battery module or the battery pack can be variously set according to the required output voltage or the charge and discharge capacity.

[0005] In addition, since the battery cells undergo a chemical reaction during charge and discharge, their performance can be degraded when used at a temperature higher than an appropriate temperature, and if heat cannot be controlled to an appropriate temperature, an accidental fire or explosion is more likely to occur. In addition, since the battery module has a structure in which the battery cells are stored in the inside of the module case in a concentrated manner. Therefore, if a thermal event occurs in the battery cells, high-temperature gas or flames discharged from the battery cells can spread to adjacent battery cells, thereby causing a chain reaction of explosion in the battery cells, which is very dangerous.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to develop a structure capable of suppressing and delaying heat propagation by clearly separating the battery cells, thereby preventing high-temperature gas or flames from spreading to other battery cells inside the battery module to cause thermal runaway even if a thermal event occurs in some of the battery cells inside the battery module. SUMMARY

[0007] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0008] This disclosure aims to address the problems of the prior art, and therefore aims to provide a battery module that can effectively prevent or delay the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells by clearly separating the battery cells.

[0009] This disclosure also provides battery packs and vehicles that include such battery modules.

[0010] However, the technical problems sought to be solved by this disclosure 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 above.

[0011] Technical solution

[0012] In one aspect of this disclosure, a battery module is provided, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; a barrier member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells; and a module housing configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the barrier member, the module housing having a protrusion formed to project from at least a portion of one side of the module housing toward the barrier member.

[0013] The module housing may include: a housing body configured to have an opening at least on its upper surface; and a top plate configured to cover the upper surface of the opening in the housing body and to have a protrusion formed on its lower surface.

[0014] The protrusions can be configured to extend along the length of the barrier member.

[0015] The barrier components can be configured to extend further outward than the battery cells.

[0016] The protrusions can be configured to contact the barrier components.

[0017] When the protrusion comes into contact with the barrier component, a sealed space can be formed by the adjacent barrier component, the protrusion, and the module housing.

[0018] The protrusion can be configured such that the lower surface of the protrusion can contact the barrier member.

[0019] The protrusion can be configured such that the end of the barrier member is inserted into the protrusion.

[0020] The protrusion can be configured such that the side surface of the protrusion can contact the barrier member.

[0021] Vent holes can be formed on the side where the protrusion of the module housing is located.

[0022] Multiple vents can be provided, and protrusions can be provided between adjacent vents.

[0023] The battery module can further include a cover member configured to cover the exhaust hole and capable of being at least partially opened and closed by the exhaust gas.

[0024] The cover member can have a cutout portion provided at a position corresponding to the exhaust hole.

[0025] In another aspect of the disclosure, a battery pack including at least one battery module according to the disclosure is provided.

[0026] In another aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle including at least one battery pack according to the disclosure is provided.

[0027] Advantageous Effects

[0028] According to one mode of the disclosure, the battery cells inside the battery module can be reliably partitioned and separated by the protrusions, thereby preventing the movement of flames, foreign matter, high-temperature gas, etc. between the battery cells.

[0029] That is, according to the above aspect of the disclosure, even if a thermal event occurs in some of the battery cells inside the battery module, the propagation of gas or flames to other battery cells inside the battery module causing thermal runaway can be effectively prevented or delayed. Thus, the safety and reliability of the battery module can be ensured.

[0030] According to another aspect of the disclosure, since the high-temperature gas or flames generated from the battery cells inside the battery module can be smoothly exhausted to the outside of the battery module, the propagation of thermal runaway due to an increase in internal pressure of the battery module can be prevented or delayed.

[0031] In particular, according to the above aspect of the disclosure, since the sealed space is formed by the protrusions, the internal pressure of the battery cell in which the thermal event occurs can increase, and thus the exhaust gas or flames can be preferentially exhausted through the exhaust hole of the battery cell in which the thermal event occurs. This can shorten the time for which the high-temperature exhaust gas or flames stay around the area of the battery cell in which the fire occurs inside the battery module.

[0032] According to another aspect of the disclosure, an event such as a fire or explosion caused by thermal runaway in a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules or a device equipped with a plurality of battery modules can be prevented or delayed.

[0033] In addition, the disclosure can have various other effects, and various other effects will be described in the respective embodiments, or the description of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the foregoing disclosure, serve to provide further instruction in regard to 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 of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

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

[0037] Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I' in Figure 1 .

[0038] Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of a top plate included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 5 is a sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from above.

[0040] Figure 6 is a magnified view of part A in Figure 3 , which illustrates a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 7 is a view illustrating a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 8 is a view illustrating a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Figure 9 is a view illustrating a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Figure 10 and Figure 11 is a view illustrating a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] Figure 12 and Figure 13 is a view illustrating a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] Figure 14 is a view illustrating a cover member included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] Figure 15 is a sectional view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 16 FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which a cover member is opened when a thermal event occurs in a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0049] Figure 17 FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0050] Figure 18 FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before describing, it should be understood that the terms used in the specification and the appended claims should not be interpreted as limited to general and dictionary meanings and should be interpreted based on the meanings and concepts corresponding to technical aspects of the disclosure on the basis of the principle that the inventor is allowed to define appropriate terms in order to best explain the present disclosure.

[0052] Accordingly, the description set forth herein is merely illustrative of preferred examples of the disclosure and is presented for the purpose of best disclosing the present disclosure, and therefore, it should be understood that other equivalents and modifications of the disclosure can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0053] In addition, the disclosure can include various embodiments. In the embodiments, repeated descriptions of substantially the same or similar configurations will be omitted, and descriptions will be made based on different points between them.

[0054] Further, although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used in the present specification, it is obvious to those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains that the terms are merely for the convenience of explanation with reference to the related drawings and can vary according to the position of an object of interest or the position of an observer.

[0055] For example, in the embodiments of the disclosure, the X-axis direction shown in the drawings can indicate the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction can indicate the front-rear direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on a horizontal plane X-Y plane, i.e., the length direction of the battery cell, and the Z-axis direction can indicate the up-down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, i.e., the height direction of the battery cell.

[0056] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the disclosure, Figure 2 FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to the embodiment of the disclosure, and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I' in Figure 1 FIG. 1.

[0057] Reference Figures 1 to 3 According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the battery module 10 may include a battery cell 100, a barrier member 200, and a module housing 300.

[0058] Multiple battery cells 100 can be configured. These multiple battery cells 100 can be stacked in one direction. For example, as... Figure 2 As shown, multiple battery cells 100 can also be stacked along the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0059] The battery cell 100 can be a pouch-type secondary battery. The battery cell 100 may include an electrode assembly and a cell housing 110 that houses the electrode assembly. The cell housing 110 can house the electrode assembly in a receiving portion, and the edges of the receiving portion can be heat-fused to form a sealing portion. The sealing portion may be provided on three of the four edges of the battery cell 100.

[0060] Additionally, each of the plurality of battery cells 100 may have an electrode lead 120. The electrode lead 120 may be connected to an electrode assembly and may extend to the outside of the cell housing 110, serving as an electrode terminal.

[0061] A pair of electrode leads 120 may be provided, and the pair of electrode leads 120 may extend outward from both ends of the battery cell 100 (e.g., in the longitudinal direction (±Y direction)). In this case, the pair of electrode leads 120 may be a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead. As needed, the battery cell 100 may be configured such that the two electrode leads 120 are located only at one end in the Y-axis direction, for example, at the end in the +Y-axis direction.

[0062] The battery cell 100 can be configured to stand upright with its edges (excluding the sealing portion) facing downwards. For example... Figure 2 As shown, multiple battery cells 100 can be arranged side-by-side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) when 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 upward direction (+Z-axis direction), and a receiving portion facing the left-right direction (X-axis direction). With the battery cells 100 configured as described above, it is easy to control the exhaust direction to one side, and edge cooling can be performed through the surface excluding the sealing portion, thereby ensuring cooling performance.

[0063] This disclosure is not limited to a specific type or shape of battery cell 100, and can be applied to various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing of this disclosure. In this embodiment, although a pouch-type secondary battery with high energy density and easy stacking will be described as shown, it is obvious that cylindrical or prismatic secondary batteries can also be applied to battery cell 100.

[0064] Further, referring to Figure 2 , the battery module 10 of the present disclosure can further include a busbar frame assembly 500. The busbar frame assembly 500 can be disposed inside the module case 300 and configured to cover at least one side of the plurality of battery cells 100. In the present embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the busbar frame assembly 500 can be coupled to the front side and the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0065] The busbar frame assembly 500 can include a busbar frame 510 and a plurality of busbars 520. The busbar frame 510 can be disposed to be coupled to the front side and the rear side of the plurality of battery cells 100. The busbar frame 510 can have a slit through which the electrode lead 120 of the battery cell 100 extends outward in the +Y-axis direction or the -Y-axis direction. In addition, the busbar frame 510 can be formed of a material having electrical insulation properties, such as a plastic material, and configured so that the busbar 520 can be attached to the outer surface.

[0066] The plurality of busbars 520, which are devices for connecting the battery cells 100 in series and / or in parallel, can be formed of a metal material such as copper, aluminum, nickel, etc., and can be configured in the shape of a bar. The electrode lead 120 of the battery cell 100 can pass through the slit of the busbar frame 510 and extend to the outside of the busbar frame 510, and the extended portion can be attached to the surface of the busbar 520 by welding or the like.

[0067] A barrier member 200 can be provided between the battery cells 100. At least one barrier member 200 can be provided in at least one battery module 10. A plurality of barrier members 200 can be provided in a direction in which the battery cells 100 are arranged. The barrier member 200 can be provided so that one or more battery cells 100 are interposed between the barrier members 200.

[0068] In particular, the barrier member 200 can be configured to separate the plurality of battery cells 100. The barrier member 200 can be configured to group the plurality of battery cells 100. For example, as Figure 3 shown, the barrier member 200 can be provided for every four battery cells 100, grouping the battery cells 100 into groups of four.

[0069] The barrier member 200 can be provided in the form of a thermal insulation pad that is thinner than the battery cell 100. The barrier member 200 can be formed of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance. Alternatively, the barrier member 200 can be configured in the form of a compressible pad made of, for example, silicone or aerogel.

[0070] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, the battery cell 100 can be partitioned or divided to prevent the spread of gas or flame to another barrier member 200 adjacent to the barrier member 200. In addition, according to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, when the battery cell 100 swells, the barrier member 200 can contribute to the structural rigidity of the battery cell 100 by compressing the battery cell 100.

[0071] The module case 300 can be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100 and barrier members 200. Specifically, the module case 300 can have an internal space formed therein, and accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100 and barrier members 200 in the internal space.

[0072] The barrier member 200 can be disposed to be spaced apart from one side of the module case 300 by a predetermined distance in consideration of the convenience of assembly or assembly tolerance. In this case, if a thermal event occurs in one battery cell 100, the discharged gas or flame can spread to another adjacent battery cell 100 through the predetermined gap formed between the barrier member 200 and the module case 300.

[0073] Therefore, the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can have a protrusion P. The protrusion P can be disposed at one side of the module case 300. For example, although Figure 3 The illustrated embodiment shows the protrusion P disposed at the upper side of the module case 300, but the position of the protrusion P is not limited thereto.

[0074] The protrusion P can be configured such that at least a portion thereof protrudes from one side of the module case 300 toward the barrier member 200. The protrusion P can be configured to minimize the gap between the module case 300 and the barrier member 200. Therefore, the battery cell 100 can be partitioned not only by the barrier member 200 but also by the protrusion P.

[0075] In addition, even if a thermal event occurs in any one of the battery cells 100 grouped by the barrier member 200, the movement of the discharged gas, flame, and / or particles to the other group of battery cells 100 can be suppressed by the protrusion P. To this end, the protrusion P can be made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance, such that it does not deform and maintains a sealed structure even at high temperature and high pressure.

[0076] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, the battery cell 100 can be reliably divided and separated. Therefore, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 100, the transmission of the discharged gas or flame to the adjacent battery cell 100 can be prevented, thereby effectively preventing or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between the battery cells 100. Therefore, the safety and reliability of the battery module 10 can be ensured.

[0077] Figure 4is a bottom perspective view of a top plate included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a battery module when viewed from above according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0078] In addition to Figure 2 Figure 4 , the module case 300 can include a case body 310 and a top plate 320. The case body 310 can be configured to have at least one opening. For example, the case body 310 can be configured to have an upper opening, a front opening, and a rear opening. That is, the case body 310 can be configured as a U-shaped frame.

[0079] The case body 310 can be configured of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance in order to physically or chemically protect the accommodated battery cells 100.

[0080] The top plate 320 can be configured to form an upper side of the module case 300. The top plate 320 can be coupled to the case body 310 to cover the upper opening of the case body 310. The top plate 320 can be welded to the case body 310. In this case, a square tube having the front opening and the rear opening can be obtained by coupling the top plate 320 and the case body 310.

[0081] The module case 300 can include end plates 330 disposed on the front opening and the rear opening of the case body 310. The end plates 330 can be welded to the case body 310. Although not shown for convenience, the end plates 330 can be configured such that, for example, an inner surface is composed of an insulating material and an outer surface is composed of a metal material. In addition, the end plates 330 can be partially provided with holes or slits for exposing components of the battery module 10, such as positive and negative terminals or connectors, which need to be exposed to the outside.

[0082] In addition, the module case 300 can be configured in various other forms. For example, the module case 300 can include a lower case having an upper opening in the shape of a box and an upper cover configured to cover the upper opening of the lower case.

[0083] In this case, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 4 , a protrusion P can be formed on the top plate 320. The protrusion P can be disposed on a lower surface of the top plate 320. High-temperature gas such as exhaust gas or flame generated from the battery cells 100 has a strong tendency to rise and can travel toward an empty space disposed at the top of the battery cells 100. According to the above-achieved configuration of the disclosure, since the protrusion P is disposed at the top of the battery cells 100, the travel of heat such as exhaust gas or flame toward other battery cells 100 can be minimized.

[0084] ​In addition, since the protrusions P are provided inside the battery module 10, the height of the battery module 10 is not increased, and the appearance of the battery module 10 is not changed. Thus, according to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent the energy density of the battery module 10 from being affected.

[0085] A plurality of protrusions P can be provided in one direction. The one direction can be defined as a direction in which the barrier member 200 and the battery cell 100 are arranged, that is, a left-right direction (parallel to the X axis).

[0086] In addition, referring to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , the protrusions P can also be configured to extend in the length direction (front-rear direction) of the barrier member 200. That is, the protrusions P can also be configured to extend in the length direction of the top plate 320. The protrusions P can be provided to correspond to the length of the barrier member 200.

[0087] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, both sides of the battery cell 100 can be blocked by the protrusions P and the barrier member 200, thereby preventing the movement of gas or the like.

[0088] The protrusions P can be integrally formed with the top plate 320. That is, the protrusions P can be integrally provided on the lower surface of the top plate 320. Specifically, the top plate 320 can be extrusion-molded such that the protrusions P are integrated with the top plate 320. When the top plate 320 is extrusion-molded, the protrusions P can be formed to extend in a straight line in the extrusion direction (Y axis direction) in Figure 4 .

[0089] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, since the protrusions P are integrally provided with the top plate 320, a process of coupling the protrusions P with the top plate 320 can be omitted, and defects at the coupling portion of the protrusions P with the top plate 320 can be minimized.

[0090] Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 3 which illustrates the structure of the protrusions included in the battery module according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0091] One side of the module case 300, that is, the top plate 320 and the barrier member 200 can be provided to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Specifically, the barrier member 200 can be configured to further extend outward, for example, upward, than the battery cell 100. The barrier member 200 can be configured to further extend upward than the receiving portion of the battery cell 100. That is, the vertical height of the barrier member 200 can be configured to be greater than the vertical height of the battery cell 100.

[0092] According to the configuration implemented above in this disclosure, the barrier member 200 can more reliably separate the battery cell 100 and prevent the movement of exhaust gases or flames.

[0093] Reference Figure 6 The protrusion P can be configured to contact the barrier member 200. The protrusion P can at least partially contact the upper surface or side surface of the barrier member 200.

[0094] According to the configuration implemented above in this disclosure, since the gap between the barrier member 200 and the top plate 320 is minimized, the space in which the exhaust gas can flow can be reduced, thereby preventing thermal runaway from propagating to other adjacent battery cells 100.

[0095] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 6 When the protrusion P contacts the barrier member 200, a sealed space S can be formed by the adjacent barrier members 200, the protrusion P, and the module housing 300. Here, "sealed" refers to the restriction of the movement of exhaust gas between adjacent battery cells 100 based on a barrier member 200 between them in the left-right direction (X-axis direction). This sealed space S can be configured to prevent gases generated from battery cells 100 from moving to other battery cells 100.

[0096] In particular, such as Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion P can be configured such that its lower surface contacts the barrier member 200. That is, the protrusion P can contact the surface of the barrier member 200. When the protrusion P extends along the length of the barrier member 200, the protrusion P and the barrier member 200 can be configured to be in surface contact with each other in a straight line. In this case, the length of the protrusion P projecting from the top plate 320 can be configured to be equal to the gap between the barrier member 200 and the top plate 320.

[0097] According to the configuration implemented above in this disclosure, when the top plate 320 is connected to the housing body 310, the lower surface of the protrusion P and the upper surface of the barrier member 200 can be in close contact with each other. Furthermore, since the barrier member 200 is compressible, it can be in even closer contact with the protrusion P. This further seals the space S, thereby further suppressing the movement of exhaust gas or flame across the protrusion P.

[0098] Figure 7 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0099] In another embodiment, in order to improve the fixation strength between the protrusion P and the barrier member 200, the protrusion P can be configured such that the end of the barrier member 200 is inserted into the protrusion P.

[0100] More specifically, referring to Figure 7 , the protrusion P can have a fixing groove G formed to be at least partially recessed. The barrier member 200 can be inserted into the fixing groove G. Accordingly, the upper end of the barrier member 200 can be in close contact with the fixing groove G without a gap.

[0101] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, since the barrier member 200 can be inserted into the protrusion P and supported from both sides, the fixing strength between the barrier member 200 and the protrusion P can be further improved. Thereby, the configuration state of the battery cell 100 and the barrier member 200 can be stably maintained.

[0102] In addition, the sealing force between the end of the barrier member 200 and the protrusion P of the top plate 320 can be stably ensured. Accordingly, according to the above implemented configuration, the plurality of battery cells 100 can be more reliably separated, and thus the heat propagation prevention performance between the battery cells 100 can be further improved.

[0103] Further, according to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the high-temperature high-pressure discharge gas or flame pushes out the barrier member 200 or the barrier member 200 is bent and deformed due to the internal pressure of the discharge gas, thereby causing heat to be transferred to other battery cells 100. Accordingly, when the thermal runaway propagation occurs in the battery module 10, the thermal runaway propagation between the battery cells 100 can be effectively prevented or delayed.

[0104] Figure 8 FIG. 2 is a view showing a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0105] As another embodiment, an elastic member E can be provided between the module case 300 and the protrusion P. The elastic member E can be configured as an elastic body such as a spring or a block having elasticity. The elastic member E can be provided at an inner end of the protrusion P facing the module case 300. For example, the elastic member E can be provided at a portion where the top plate 320 and the protrusion P contact each other.

[0106] When the top plate 320 is coupled to the case body 310, the elastic member E can be compressed by a force applied in a direction in which the top plate 320 moves toward the case body 310. According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, the contact between the protrusion P and the barrier member 200 can be improved. In addition, the protrusion P can be in close contact with the barrier member 200 regardless of the length protruding from one side of the module case 300. That is, even if there is a gap between the protrusion P and the barrier member 200 due to a tolerance during the manufacturing of the battery module 10, the protrusion P can be in contact with the barrier member 200 to form the sealed space S.

[0107] Figure 9 is a view showing a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0108] The protrusion P can be configured such that the side surface is in contact with the barrier member 200. That is, as disclosed in the embodiment shown, Figure 9 the protrusion P can be configured to partially overlap the barrier member 200 in the arrangement direction (left-right direction) of the protrusion P and / or the barrier member 200. The outer end of the protrusion P can be configured to be in contact with the upper end surface of the barrier member 200. In this case, the protruding length h of the protrusion P from the top plate 320 can be configured to be greater than the gap between the barrier member 200 and the top plate 320.

[0109] According to the above-implemented configuration of the disclosure, when the top plate 320 is coupled to the case body 310, the side surface of the protrusion P and the upper side surface of the barrier member 200 can be in close contact with each other. As a result, the distance that the discharge gas or flame needs to travel to get over the protrusion P can be further increased. Therefore, when the thermal runaway propagation occurs in the battery module 10, the thermal runaway propagation between the battery cells 100 can be effectively prevented or delayed.

[0110] In addition, according to the above-implemented configuration of the disclosure, since the protrusion P is supported by the barrier member 200, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the high-temperature high-pressure discharge gas or flame pushes out the barrier member 200, or the barrier member 200 is bent and deformed due to the internal pressure of the discharge gas. Therefore, it is possible to secure the mechanical stability or the joint strength of the battery module 10.

[0111] Although Figure 9 the embodiment in which the protrusion P is disposed on the left side of the barrier member 200 is shown, the protrusion P can be disposed on the right side of the barrier member 200.

[0112] Figure 10 and Figure 11 is a view showing a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0113] As another embodiment, as disclosed in the embodiment shown, Figure 10 the protrusion P can be configured to protrude diagonally toward the barrier member 200. Specifically, the protrusion P can be configured to form a predetermined angle θ1 with the top plate 320. The angle θ1 can be an obtuse angle. Therefore, the side surface of the protrusion P can be configured to be in contact with the barrier member 200, specifically, the upper end line of the barrier member 200.

[0114] According to the above implemented configuration according to the disclosure, since the protrusion P is supported by the barrier member 200, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the high-temperature high-pressure discharge gas or flame pushes out the barrier member 200. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the movement of the flame, foreign matter, or high-temperature gas between the battery cells 100.

[0115] When thermal runaway occurs in the battery cell 100, the shape of the top plate 320 can be deformed due to the pressure of the gas discharged from the battery cell 100 and / or the high heat of the dust or flame. For example, the edge of the top plate 320 can be coupled and fixed to the case body 310, but the central portion of the top plate 320 can be swollen upward due to the pressure of the gas or flame.

[0116] To prevent this, according to the embodiment of the disclosure, the contact between the protrusion P and the barrier member 200 can be configured to be maintained even when the top plate 320 is swollen.

[0117] For example, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion P can also be configured to be rotatable. Specifically, a hinge F can be provided at one end of the protrusion P. Upon rotation of the hinge F, the protrusion P can be rotated such that the angle θ2 between the protrusion P and the top plate 320 can be reduced. For example, the angle θ2 between the protrusion P and the top plate 320 can be configured to be an angle between a right angle and an obtuse angle. Figure 11

[0118] As a more specific example, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, when the top plate 320 is swollen, the protrusion P located at the central portion of the top plate 320 can be configured such that its lower surface comes into contact with the upper surface of the barrier member 200. Figure 11

[0119] In this case, in order to prevent the protrusion P from moving to another battery cell 100 beyond the barrier member 200, the protrusion P and the barrier member 200 can be configured to be interlocked with each other. For example, the barrier member 200 can have a stopper, and the protrusion P can be configured in a form corresponding to the shape of the stopper.

[0120] According to the above implemented configuration according to the disclosure, the contact between the protrusion P and the barrier member 200 can be maintained even when the top plate 320 is swollen due to the pressure of the discharge gas or flame. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the propagation of thermal runaway to the other battery cells 100 adjacent thereto.

[0121] Further, since the stopper is provided, the protrusion P can be supported by the barrier member 200, thereby reducing the possibility that the barrier member 200 moves to the space where the adjacent battery cell 100 is located by the pressure of the discharge gas or flame. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the movement of the flame, foreign matter, or high-temperature gas between the battery cells 100.​​

[0122] Figure 12 and Figure 13 is a view illustrating a structure of a protrusion included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0123] Unlike the above-described embodiments, the protrusion P can be configured not to be in contact with the barrier member 200 when thermal runaway does not occur in the battery module 10. For example, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 12 , the protrusion P can be configured to be inserted into the module case 300 under normal circumstances and not to protrude outside the module case 300. More specifically, an insertion groove I capable of receiving the protrusion P in an inner space thereof can be provided in the top plate 320. In this case, an adhesive member T can be provided at an end of the protrusion P. The adhesive member T can be provided between the protrusion P and the insertion groove I. Thereby, the protrusion P can be fixed to the insertion groove I.

[0124] When thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, the protrusion P can come out of the insertion groove I and protrude toward the inner space of the module case 300. More specifically, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 , the protrusion P can be provided with a hinge at one end to be rotatable. Thus, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, the adhesive member T can be melted due to heat, so that the end of the protrusion P can be separated from the insertion groove I and rotated toward the lower surface of the top plate 320.

[0125] In addition, the protrusion P, which is rotated and exposed to the outside of the module case 300, can be in contact with the barrier member 200. In this case, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 13 , the protrusion P can be configured to have one side thereof in contact with the end side of the barrier member 200. Alternatively, the lower surface of the protrusion P can be in contact with the upper surface of the barrier member 200. Thus, the protrusion P can operate only when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, thereby partitioning and separating the battery cells 100.

[0126] According to the above-achieved configuration of the disclosure, in the case where thermal runaway does not occur in the battery module 10, heat generated during charging and discharging of the battery cells 100 can be prevented from freely moving and increasing internal pressure. In addition, according to the above-achieved configuration of the disclosure, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, the movement of the exhaust gas or flame to a space in which the adjacent battery cells 100 are disposed can be prevented by the protrusion P. Thus, the propagation of thermal runaway between the battery cells 100 can be suppressed or prevented.

[0127] Figure 14 is a view illustrating a cover member included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and Figure 15is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure. In addition, Figure 16 is a view showing a state in which a cover member is opened when a thermal event occurs in a battery module according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

[0128] Referring to Figure 14 An exhaust hole H can be formed in the module case 300. The exhaust hole H can be configured to exhaust exhaust gas generated in the battery cell 100 to the outside of the module case 300. The exhaust hole H can be formed at a side where the protrusion P is located.

[0129] For example, as Figure 14 indicated, the protrusion P can be formed in the top plate 320, and the exhaust hole H can also be formed in the top plate 320. As a result, exhaust gas can be oriented toward the top of the battery module 10 through the exhaust hole H.

[0130] Specifically, a plurality of exhaust holes H can be disposed at regular intervals in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction).

[0131] The exhaust hole H can be located between the barrier members 200. That is, the exhaust hole H can be disposed above at least one battery cell 100 located between adjacent barrier members 200. For example, as Figure 3 indicated, the barrier member 200 can be disposed for every four battery cells 100, and a plurality of exhaust holes H can be formed in a row along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery cell 100 above the battery cell 100 located between the barrier members 200.

[0132] In this case, the protrusion P can be disposed between adjacent exhaust holes H among the plurality of exhaust holes H. That is, the exhaust hole H can be disposed for each sealed space S. Accordingly, gas or flame exhausted from the battery cell 100 accommodated between the adjacent barrier members 200 can be exhausted to the outside of the module case 300 through the protrusion P only through the exhaust hole H located between the adjacent barrier members 200.

[0133] According to the above implemented configuration of the disclosure, the sealed space S can be configured to communicate with the exhaust hole H so that gas or the like generated from the battery cell 100 can be guided and exhausted only toward the exhaust hole H (see Figure 6that is, since the surrounding area of the exhaust hole H is blocked, the directional exhaust of the gas can be more effectively guided in the upward direction. Accordingly, the internal pressure of the battery cell 100 in which the thermal event occurs can increase, so that the gas can be preferentially discharged through the exhaust hole H above the battery cell 100. Accordingly, according to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, the time in which the high-temperature exhaust gas or flame remaining around the battery cell 100 in which the fire occurs inside the battery module 10 can be shortened.

[0134] Referring to Figures 14 to 16 , the battery module 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure can further include a cover member 400.

[0135] Referring to Figure 14 and Figure 15 , the cover member 400 can be configured to at least partially cover the module case 300. For example, the cover member 400 can be configured to cover the top plate 320. The cover member 400 can be disposed on the outer side and / or the inner side of the module case 300.

[0136] In particular, the cover member 400 can be configured to cover the exhaust hole H. In this case, the cover member 400 can be configured in a sheet shape and can be seated on the module case 300. The cover member 400 can be configured to cover all of the plurality of exhaust holes H.

[0137] The cover member 400 can be configured to suppress the spread of the exhaust gas or flame discharged when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 10 to another battery module 10. To this end, the cover member 400 can be made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance, such as a mica sheet or a silicone composite material.

[0138] Accordingly, even when high-temperature heat is generated, the cover member 400 can maintain form stability without being deformed, thereby stably blocking the high-temperature gas or flame generated from the battery cell 100.

[0139] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, since the cover member 400 is configured of a rigid and heat-resistant material, deformation caused by the high-temperature gas or flame can be minimized.

[0140] As disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figure 16 , the cover member 400 can be configured to be at least partially openable by the exhaust gas or flame. Specifically, at least a portion of the cover member 400 can be configured to be broken by the pressure or heat of the exhaust gas moving toward the exhaust hole H. Alternatively, at least a portion of the cover member 400 can be configured to be completely separated.

[0141] To this end, the cover member 400 can have a cutout portion N. The cutout portion N can be configured to be opened by the discharge gas, thereby discharging the discharge gas to the outside of the battery module 10.

[0142] A plurality of cutout portions N can be provided at regular intervals in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). In particular, the cutout portions N can be formed at positions corresponding to the exhaust holes H. Also, the cutout portions N can be configured in a shape corresponding to the exhaust holes H.

[0143] According to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 100, the cutout portion N provided at one side of the specific battery cell 100 can be ruptured to open at least one of the plurality of exhaust holes H. Accordingly, the discharge gas or the like can be discharged to the outside of the module case 300 through the opened exhaust hole H (see the bold arrow in FIG. 10). Figure 16

[0144] In particular, the sealed space S can be further sealed by the protrusion P, the barrier member 200, and the cover member 400, and the internal pressure of the sealed space S can increase due to the discharge gas or the flame generated in the battery cell 100 in which thermal runaway occurs. Accordingly, the cover member 400 (cutout portion N) on one side of the battery cell 100 in which a thermal event occurs can be preferentially opened, so that the discharge gas or the flame can be rapidly discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 through the exhaust hole H on one side of the battery cell 100 in which a thermal event occurs.

[0145] In addition, the cover member 400 can prevent the gas or the flame discharged to the outside of the module case 300 from flowing back into the battery module 10. That is, the exhaust hole H provided at one side of the battery cell 100 in which a thermal event does not occur can remain in a closed state without being opened. Thereby, the discharge gas or the flame discharged to the outside through the opened exhaust hole H can be fundamentally prevented from flowing back to the battery module 10. In addition, the cover member 400 of the remaining portion which is not ruptured can not only block heat but also high-temperature gas, flame, or discharge generated from the battery cell 100.

[0146] That is, according to the above implemented configuration of the present disclosure, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, not only the discharge gas or the flame generated inside the battery module 10 can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the battery module 10, but also the discharged discharge gas or flame can be prevented from flowing back into the battery module 10. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively prevent or delay the propagation of thermal runaway by minimizing the heat propagation to the adjacent battery cell 100 or the battery module 10.

[0147] Figure 17 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0148] ​Referring to Figure 17 A battery pack 1 according to embodiments of the disclosure can include one or more battery modules 10 according to embodiments of the disclosure described above. The battery pack 1 according to the disclosure can further include a BMS (Battery Management System) for integrated control of charge and discharge of the one or more battery modules, a current sensor and a fuse, and a battery pack case 2 for storing the above components.

[0149] Figure 18 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to embodiments of the disclosure.

[0150] Referring to Figure 18 A vehicle 3 according to embodiments of the disclosure can include one or more battery packs 1 according to embodiments of the disclosure or one or more battery modules 10 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The vehicle 3 according to the disclosure can be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle 3 includes four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. The vehicle 3 is operated by power supplied from the battery pack 1 or the battery module 10 according to embodiments of the disclosure.

[0151] As described above, although the disclosure has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the disclosure is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art to which the disclosure pertains can make various modifications and changes without departing from the technical idea of the disclosure and the equivalent scope of the claims described.

Claims

1. A battery module, the battery module comprising: Multiple battery cells; A barrier member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells; as well as A module housing configured to house the plurality of battery cells and the barrier member, and the module housing having a protrusion formed to project from at least a portion of one side of the module housing toward the barrier member.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The module housing includes: Housing body, the housing body being configured to have at least an opening on its upper surface; and A top plate, configured to cover the upper surface of the opening of the housing body, and the protrusion is formed on the lower surface of the top plate.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The protrusion is configured to extend along the length of the barrier member.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The barrier member is configured to extend further outward than the battery cell.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The protrusion is configured to contact the barrier member.

6. The battery module according to claim 1, in, When the protrusion contacts the barrier member, a sealed space is formed by the adjacent barrier member, the protrusion, and the module housing.

7. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The protrusion is configured such that its lower surface can contact the barrier member.

8. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The protrusion is configured such that the end of the barrier member is inserted into the protrusion.

9. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The protrusion is configured such that the side surface of the protrusion can contact the barrier member.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, in, An exhaust port is formed on the side where the protrusion of the module housing is located.

11. The battery module according to claim 10, in, The exhaust port is provided with multiple vents, and The protrusion is disposed between adjacent exhaust holes.

12. The battery module according to claim 10, further comprising: A cover member configured to cover the vent and capable of being opened and closed at least partially by venting gas.

13. The battery module according to claim 12, in, The cover member has a cutout located at a position corresponding to the vent hole.

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

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

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