Battery module, and battery pack and vehicle including the same

Abstract

The battery module according to the present invention may comprise: a battery cell assembly comprising a plurality of battery cells; a module case that accommodates the battery cell assembly and has a vent hole provided on one side of the module case such that gas generated in the battery cell is discharged to the outside; a module terminal electrically connected to the cell assembly and exposed on the other side of the module case; a fireproof cover member covering an upper end of the cell assembly to suppress upward discharge of gas from the battery cell; and a block member that partitions a space between one side of the module case and the cell assembly such that gas is guided toward the vent hole.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a battery module, and more specifically, to a battery module for emitting gas or flame in a specific direction when the battery cell is ignited, as well as a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0079828, filed in Korea on June 19, 2024, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] Secondary batteries are highly adaptable due to their product portfolio and electrical characteristics such as high energy density, and are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) powered by electric motors. These secondary batteries are gaining attention as an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient new energy source, not only because they can significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels, but also because they do not produce any byproducts from energy use.

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

[0005] Generally, the operating voltage of a secondary battery is approximately 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, for example, in electric vehicles, battery modules are configured by connecting multiple secondary batteries in series and / or parallel, and battery packs are configured by connecting multiple battery modules in series or parallel, with the battery packs used as an energy source.

[0006] Furthermore, recently, battery packs have achieved very high energy densities due to the dense packing of numerous battery modules within a limited internal space. If a fire occurs in any of these battery modules, the gases and flames could spread to the surrounding area, potentially triggering a chain reaction of fires in adjacent battery modules. Therefore, methods to delay or minimize heat transfer between battery modules within a battery pack are considered a key issue in preparing for battery module fires and have been investigated. For example, if the direction of gases or flames emitted from the battery modules in the event of a fire can be controlled, it would be easier to design a battery pack that minimizes the impact of gases or flames on the battery modules. Therefore, there is a need to develop a battery module that can guide gases or flames in a specific direction and safely discharge them in the event of a fire within the battery module. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Technical issues

[0008] This disclosure is designed to address the problems of the prior art, and therefore aims to provide a battery module having a directional emission structure that can stably emit gas or flame in a specific direction when the battery cell catches fire.

[0009] This disclosure also aims to provide a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.

[0010] 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, the battery module comprising: a cell assembly having a plurality of battery cells; a module housing configured to house the cell assembly and having an exhaust port on one side to allow gas generated from the battery cells to be discharged to the outside; a module terminal electrically connected to the cell assembly and exposed on the other side of the module housing; a fireproof cover member configured to cover the top of the cell assembly to inhibit upward emission of gas from the battery cells; and a block member configured to partition the space between one side of the module housing and the cell assembly to guide gas toward the exhaust port.

[0013] The fireproof cover component and the block component can be formed as one unit.

[0014] The block component can be bent and extended from one end of the fireproof cover component.

[0015] The fireproof cover component may be made of a compressible material to fill the space between the top of the battery cell assembly and the upper surface of the module housing.

[0016] The battery module may further include: a busbar connected to electrode leads respectively disposed to the plurality of battery cells; and a busbar frame configured to support the busbar and cover the front or rear side of the cell assembly.

[0017] The busbar frame covering the rear side of the battery cell assembly may face one side of the module housing and has multiple through holes for gas passage.

[0018] The block component can be disposed on the outside of the busbar frame and can be configured to block gas passing through the through hole from moving in the direction of the battery cell stack in the space between one side of the module housing and the busbar frame.

[0019] The block components can be configured in multiple ways, such that the multiple block components are arranged to be spaced apart along the direction of the battery cell stack.

[0020] The block member can be configured to extend in the height direction of the busbar frame.

[0021] The block components can be configured to be connected by being assembled to block connectors formed to protrude from the busbar frame.

[0022] The battery module may further include an exhaust blocking block disposed in the space between the cell assembly and the busbar frame. The battery cell may be a pouch-type battery cell, and the exhaust blocking block may be disposed on at least one side of the cell platform where the electrode leads are led out from the battery cell.

[0023] The exhaust block can be configured to pressurize the side surface of the cell platform.

[0024] Multiple exhaust blocking blocks can be configured at the front and rear sides of the battery cell assembly. The cell platforms of the multiple battery cells located at the front side of the battery cell assembly can be completely compressed by the exhaust blocking blocks, and a portion of the cell platforms of the multiple battery cells located at the rear side of the battery cell assembly can be compressed by the exhaust blocking blocks.

[0025] In another aspect of this disclosure, a battery pack including the aforementioned battery module is provided.

[0026] In another aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle including the aforementioned battery pack is provided.

[0027] Beneficial effects

[0028] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a battery module with a directional emission structure that can stably emit gas or flame in a specific direction when the battery cell catches fire can be provided.

[0029] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the safety of the battery module can be ensured by allowing gases, flames, etc. generated from the battery cell to be emitted to the rear side of the battery module where no module terminals are provided.

[0030] According to another aspect of this disclosure, heat transfer at the top of the battery cell can be suppressed by a fireproof cover member placed in the space between the top of the battery cell and the upper surface of the module housing.

[0031] According to another aspect of this disclosure, the gas exhaust path is divided by a block member disposed on the inner side of the module housing on one side having an exhaust port. In this case, the lateral movement of the gas is blocked and restricted by the block member, and the forward and backward movement of the gas can be facilitated. Therefore, directional gas exhaust can be smoothly achieved, and the heat trapped within the battery module can be significantly reduced.

[0032] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art can clearly understand from this specification and the accompanying drawings effects not mentioned herein. Attached Figure Description

[0033] Figure 1 This is a front perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] Figure 2 This is a rear perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 3 It is shown Figure 2 An exploded perspective view of the battery module.

[0036] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 2 A side view of the battery cells included in the battery module.

[0037] Figure 5 It shows along Figure 2 The rear cross-section of the battery module is taken by line I-I'.

[0038] Figure 6 This is a front view showing the rear end cover of a module housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 7 This is a front view showing a rear busbar frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figures 8 to 10 This is a process diagram illustrating the process before and after the assembly of the fireproof cover component and block component of the battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 11 It is shown Figure 2 Front view of the rear side of the battery module with the rear cover removed.

[0042] Figure 12 It is shown Figure 10 The image shows a cross-sectional perspective view of the battery module.

[0043] Figure 13 It is shown Figure 12 A cross-sectional perspective view of the battery module with the rear cover attached.

[0044] Figure 14 It is shown Figure 13 A magnified cross-sectional view of a portion of the image.

[0045] Figure 15 This is a rear interior perspective view of a battery module in which an exhaust blocking member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

[0046] Figure 16 This is a front internal perspective view of a battery module in which an exhaust blocking member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

[0047] Figure 17 This is a front cross-sectional view of a battery module in which an exhaust blocking member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied.

[0048] Figure 18 This is a schematic perspective view illustrating a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Figure 19 This is a schematic perspective view showing a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0050] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before the description, it should be understood that the terminology used in the specification and appended claims should not be construed as limited to its general and dictionary meaning, but should be interpreted according to the meaning and concept corresponding to the technical aspects of the present disclosure, based on the principle that inventors are allowed to appropriately define terms for the best interpretation.

[0051] Therefore, the description presented herein is merely a preferred example for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that other equivalents and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

[0052] Furthermore, this disclosure includes various embodiments. For each embodiment, redundant descriptions of substantially the same or similar components will be omitted, and differences will be described.

[0053] Figure 1 This is a front perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 This is a rear perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 3 It is shown Figure 2 Exploded perspective view of the battery module. Figure 4 It is shown Figure 2 A side view of the battery cells included in the battery module, and Figure 5 It shows along Figure 2 The rear cross-section of the battery module is taken by line I-I'.

[0054] Reference Figures 1 to 5 According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the battery module 10 includes a cell assembly 100, a module terminal 200, a module housing 300, a fireproof cover component 400, and a block component 500.

[0055] The battery module 10 according to this disclosure is configured to allow gases or flames generated from the battery cell 110 to be directionally discharged in a specific direction in the event of a thermal event. For example, the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of this disclosure is configured such that, in the event of an internal fire, the front side of the battery module 10 has a... Figure 1 The sealing structure shown, and as Figure 2 As shown, an exhaust port H1 is provided on the rear side of the battery module 10 to discharge gas or flame to the rear side of the battery module 10.

[0056] As will be described later, when multiple battery modules 10 are installed in the battery pack housing 2, in many cases, the front side of the battery module 10, where the module terminals 200 are located, is positioned towards the center of the battery pack housing 2 to simplify the electrical connections between the battery modules 10. In this case, if gas or flame is vented to the front side of the battery module 10 when a particular battery module 10 catches fire, heat may accumulate in the center of the battery pack housing, thereby increasing the risk of chain fire of the battery modules 10. Furthermore, if gas or flame is vented to the front side of the battery module 10, it may not be easy to ensure a gas venting path within the battery pack.

[0057] Therefore, the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is configured such that gas or flame is discharged to the rear side of the battery module 10, which is opposite to the front side of the battery module 10 where the module terminals 200 are located. The main configuration of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below.

[0058] Reference Figure 3 The cell assembly 100 can refer to an assembly of multiple battery cells 110. Here, the battery cell 110 can be a pouch cell 110.

[0059] The pouch-type battery cell 110 may include an electrode assembly and a pouch housing 111 that houses the electrode assembly. The pouch housing 111 may include a receiving portion 111a and a sealing portion. The receiving portion 111a is the part that houses the electrode assembly, and the sealing portion is the part that is thermally welded and sealed at the outer periphery of the receiving portion 111a.

[0060] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, the sealing portion can be disposed on three of the four side surfaces of the bag housing 111. The sealing portion may include two cell platforms 111b and a side edge 111c.

[0061] Here, the two cell platforms 111b refer to the front and rear sealing portions of the bag housing. The electrode leads 112 can be configured such that one end is connected to an electrode assembly inside the bag housing 111 and extends to the outside of the cell platforms 111b.

[0062] Side edge 111c refers to Figure 4 The upper sealing portion is located in the bag housing 111b. The side edge 111c can be folded at least once. A sealing strip 113 can be attached to the side edge 111c. The sealing strip 113 can be attached to the side edge 111c in a manner that wraps around the side edge 111c along the thickness direction of the battery cell 110. Furthermore, the sealing strip 113 can be configured to extend along the length direction of the battery cell 110. The length of the sealing strip 113 can be configured to extend to the same length as the battery cell 110. The sealing strip 113 can be configured to completely cover the side edge 111c of the battery cell 110 in the length direction.

[0063] In this situation, when gas is generated inside the battery cell 110 and the internal pressure increases, the side edge 111c is unlikely to open, and the gas can be prevented from being discharged upward along the battery cell 110.

[0064] Multiple pouch-type battery cells 110 can be stacked in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) with the unsealed side surface facing down and the wider surfaces facing each other. The unsealed lower surface of the pouch housing 111 can contact the bottom surface of the module housing 300. The heat from the battery cells 110 can be dissipated to the module housing through heat exchange between the lower surface of the pouch housing 111 and the bottom surface of the module housing 300. At this time, a thermally conductive resin (not shown) can be provided between the lower surface of the pouch housing 111 and the bottom surface of the module housing 300. The thermally conductive resin can be a material with adhesive properties and high thermal conductivity.

[0065] Furthermore, this disclosure is not limited to a specific type or shape of the battery cell 110, and various battery cells 110 known at the time of filing of this application may be used. In this embodiment, a pouch-type secondary battery is used as shown, but cylindrical or rectangular secondary batteries may also be used as the battery cell 110.

[0066] The cell assembly 100 according to this embodiment may include a barrier member 120. The barrier member 120 may be configured as a plate shape having a thickness thinner than that of the battery cell 110. For example, the barrier member 120 may be configured as a pad shape having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance and compressibility. Materials such as silicone or aerogel may be used as the material of the barrier member 120.

[0067] Multiple barrier members 120 can be provided, and the multiple barrier members 120 can be arranged such that a predetermined number of battery cells 110 are interposed between them along the direction in which the battery cells 110 are arranged. In particular, the barrier members 120 can be configured to divide the battery cells 110 into a predetermined number of battery cells.

[0068] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, when thermal runaway occurs at the battery cell 110, the propagation of flame or heat can be blocked by the barrier member 120. Furthermore, when expansion occurs at the battery cell 110, the barrier member can help suppress structural deformation of the module housing 300 by absorbing the expansion force of the battery cell 110.

[0069] Module terminals 200 can be configured to be electrically connected to a plurality of battery cells 110. Furthermore, module terminals 200 can be configured to be exposed on the other side of the module housing 300. For example, module terminals can be configured such that one side is connected to the electrode leads 112 of the battery cells 110 inside the module housing 300, and the other side is exposed to the outside of the front cover 320, explained later, to serve as a positive or negative terminal of the battery module 10.

[0070] The module housing 300 can be configured to house the battery cell assembly 100. Specifically, the module housing 300 can have an internal space capable of accommodating the battery cell assembly 100, and can be made of a material with excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance, thereby providing physical or chemical protection to the battery cell assembly 100 housed in the internal space.

[0071] Specifically, the module housing 300 may have an exhaust port H1 on one side, so that gas or flame generated from the battery cell 110 can be discharged to the outside.

[0072] In this embodiment, one side of the module housing 300 can refer to the rear side of the module housing 300, and the other side of the module housing 300 can refer to the front side of the module housing 300. That is, the module terminal 200 and the vent H1 can be located on opposite sides. For example, as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the module terminal 200 can be located on the front side of the module housing 300, and the vent H1 can be located on the rear side of the module housing 300.

[0073] In this scenario, when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10, the gas or flame generated within the battery module 10 can be vented to the rear of the module housing 300. In this case, it is preferable to seal the remaining portions of the module housing 300 except for the vent holes.

[0074] More specifically, refer to Figures 1 to 3 The module housing 300 may include a housing body 310, a front cover 320, and a rear cover 330.

[0075] The housing body 310 may include a U-shaped frame 311 and a top plate 312. The U-shaped frame 311 may include a pair of side plates covering the left and right sides of the cell assembly 100, and a bottom plate covering the lower surface of the cell assembly 100. The pair of side plates and the bottom plate may be formed integrally.

[0076] The top plate 312 can be configured to cover the upper surface of the cell assembly 100. The top plate 312 can be welded to the U-shaped frame 311. The housing body 310 can be formed into a rectangular tube shape with open front and rear sides. As an alternative to this embodiment, a module housing 300 in the form of a single frame in which the U-shaped frame 311 and the top plate 312 are integrated can be used.

[0077] The front cover 320 and the rear cover 330 can be connected to the open front and rear surfaces of the housing body 310, respectively. The front cover 320 and the rear cover 330 can be connected to the housing body 310 by welding or snap-fit ​​structure.

[0078] The front cover 320 has a slit for pulling the module terminal 200 from the inside of the module housing to the outside. The periphery of the slit through which the module terminal 200 passes can be sealed. The rear cover 330 has multiple vent holes H1. Furthermore, the front cover 320 and the rear cover 330 may have an inner side made of insulating material and an outer side made of metallic material.

[0079] Figure 6 This is a front view showing the rear end cover of a module housing according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] Reference Figure 6Multiple vents H1 can be provided in the rear cover 330. Vents H1 can be arranged in at least one direction. Vents H1 can be arranged along multiple rows. For example, as... Figure 6 As shown, the vents H1 are arranged in rows along the height direction of the rear end cover 330, and the multiple vents H1 arranged in rows can be arranged in multiple rows along the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 (i.e., the width direction of the rear end cover 330). The multiple vents H1 can be arranged at regular intervals to each other.

[0081] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, even if a thermal event occurs in any of the battery cells 110, the exhaust gas or flame can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the module housing 300 through the exhaust port H1.

[0082] Figure 7 This is a front view showing a rear busbar frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0083] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 3 The battery module 10 of this disclosure may further include busbar frames 600A and 600B. The busbar frames 600A and 600B may be disposed inside the module housing 300 and configured to cover the front or rear side of the cell assembly 100. The busbar frames 600A and 600B support busbars 700 connected to electrode leads 112 respectively disposed on a plurality of battery cells 110. The busbar frames 600A and 600B may be made of a material with electrically insulating properties, such as plastic.

[0084] Busbar frames 600A and 600B may include a front busbar frame 600A and a rear busbar frame 600B.

[0085] Specifically, such as Figure 7 As shown, the rear busbar frame 600B has a through hole H2, while the front busbar frame 600A does not have a through hole H2. According to this embodiment, exhaust gases, flames, etc., can be guided more smoothly to be discharged in one direction, particularly towards the rear side of the module housing 300.

[0086] The through hole H2 can be configured to communicate with the vent hole H1. The through hole H2 can be configured to at least partially face the vent hole H1. The vent hole H1 and the through hole H2 can be arranged along a generally straight line.

[0087] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, exhaust gases, flames, etc., can be discharged to the outside in a generally straight line through the exhaust port H1 and the through hole H2. As a result, exhaust gases, flames, etc., can be discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 more quickly.

[0088] Busbar frames 600A and 600B may have lead slots 610. Lead slots 610 may be provided to allow at least a portion of the electrode leads 112 of multiple battery cells 110 to pass through. Lead slots 610 may be configured to allow multiple electrode leads 112 to pass through in the +Y-axis or -Y-axis direction (front-back direction).

[0089] Multiple lead slots 610 can be configured such that the multiple lead slots 610 are spaced apart from each other along the stacking direction (X-axis direction) of the battery cells 110. At this time, multiple electrode leads 112 passing through the lead slots 610 can be bent and attached to the busbar 700. Multiple battery cells 110 whose electrode leads 112 are in contact with each other on the busbar 700 can be electrically connected to each other.

[0090] Busbar 700 can be disposed among multiple lead slots 610. Therefore, busbar 700 can be configured to directly contact the electrode leads 112 passing through the lead slots 610. Specifically, the electrode leads 112 of the battery cell 110 pass through the lead slots 510 of the busbar frames 600A and 600B and are led out to the outside of the busbar frames 600A and 600B, and the portion led out in this way can be attached to the surface of busbar 700 by welding or the like.

[0091] The busbar 700 can be made of a metallic material such as copper, aluminum, or nickel. Furthermore, the busbar 700 can be made in the form of a rod extending along the height direction.

[0092] Busbar 700 can be attached to the outer surface of busbar frames 600A and 600B. For this purpose, busbar frames 600A and 600B may include busbar connection portions 520. Furthermore, busbar 700 can be located inside the electrode lead 112. That is, busbar 700 can be located between the bent electrode lead 112 and the busbar frames 600A and 600B.

[0093] Busbar frames 600A and 600B may include multiple busbar connectors 620. Busbars 700 may be configured to be installed one by one into the busbar connectors 620.

[0094] Refer again Figure 7 Multiple through holes H2 can be provided in the rear busbar frame 600B. The multiple through holes H2 can be arranged along at least one direction. For example, the multiple through holes H2 can be arranged in a row along the height direction of the rear busbar frame 600B. The through holes H2 can be configured to extend along the height direction of the rear busbar frame 600B. In this case, when the rear busbar frame 600B is viewed from the front, the through holes H2 can be configured in a rib shape.

[0095] Furthermore, multiple through holes H2 can be arranged along the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. The through holes H2 can be located on the left and right sides of the busbar connection portion 620. In this case, the through holes H2 can be located on both sides of each busbar 700.

[0096] Furthermore, some of the through holes H2 can be configured to be integrated with the lead groove 610. That is, the through holes H2 can be configured to allow at least some of the electrode leads 112 of the multiple battery cells 110 to pass through.

[0097] Furthermore, the battery module according to the embodiments of this disclosure includes a fireproof cover member 400 and a block member 500 to suppress the thermal runaway propagation of the battery cell and to more smoothly guide gases and the like to the rear side of the module housing.

[0098] The fireproof cap component 400 covers the top of the battery cell assembly 100 and is responsible for suppressing the upward emission of gases generated in the battery cell 110. The fireproof cap component 400 can be made of a material with excellent fire resistance. For example, the fireproof cap component 400 can be implemented using flame-retardant urethane foam, polyurethane foam, or silicone foam pads.

[0099] The fireproof cover member 400 may preferably be made of a compressible material to completely fill the space between the top of the battery cell assembly 100 and the upper surface of the module housing 300. For example, the fireproof cover member 400 may be configured to press against the top of the battery cell assembly 100 via the aforementioned top plate 312, thereby filling the space between the top of the battery cell assembly 100 and the top plate 312.

[0100] According to this embodiment, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell, the upward emission of gas from the battery cell can be suppressed. Furthermore, as... Figure 11As shown, since the blank space between the top plate 312 of the module housing 300 and the top of the cell assembly 100 is eliminated, heat transfer between battery cells through the top of the cell assembly 100 can be prevented. Specifically, due to differences in surface roughness, a gap may exist between the top of the cell assembly 100 and the upper surface of the module housing 300. This gap may become a channel for gas or flame to move within the module housing 300. If gas or flame flows along the gap, heat transfer between the battery cells 110 may be accelerated. Furthermore, the presence of the gap can also hinder directional discharge toward the rear of the module housing 300. However, according to embodiments of this disclosure, the fireproof cap member 400 can eliminate the gap, thereby suppressing heat transfer through the top of the cell assembly 100. Furthermore, the fireproof cap member 400 can also facilitate the upward discharge of gas generated in the battery cells and the directional discharge of gas toward the rear of the module housing 300.

[0101] Block component 500 can be configured to direct gas or flame to exhaust port H1. For example... Figure 5 As shown, the block member 500 can be disposed inside the module housing 300. Specifically, the block member 500 can be disposed between the side of the module housing 300 having the vent H1 and the cell assembly 100. Furthermore, the block member 500 can be configured to partition the space formed between the module housing 300 and the cell assembly 100, thereby restricting the lateral movement of gas flowing in the space and guiding the gas toward the vent H1.

[0102] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 110 within the battery module 10, exhaust gas can be discharged in only one target direction (such as the direction toward the exhaust port H1), for example... Figure 5 As indicated by the arrow in the diagram. In other words, because the outer periphery of the block member 500, except for the exhaust port H1, is blocked, the directional discharge of exhaust gas can be guided more effectively toward the exhaust port H1.

[0103] Therefore, according to this embodiment, the exhaust gas can be quickly guided to the exhaust port H1 and discharged to the outside. In other words, according to this embodiment of the present disclosure, heat accumulation inside the battery module 10 can be prevented or suppressed. Therefore, the safety and reliability of the battery module 10 can be guaranteed.

[0104] The block member 500 can be configured to divide a space through which gases or the like can flow into multiple spaces. The block member 500 can be configured to prevent exhaust gases from moving into adjacent exhaust spaces.

[0105] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, since the space through which gases and the like can flow is separated, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 110, the transmission of exhaust gases, flames, etc. to adjacent battery cells 110 is prevented, thereby effectively preventing or delaying the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells 110.

[0106] The block member 500 may comprise an elastic material such as silicone. As a result, the block member 500 can be compressed by components within the battery module 10. According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, spaces through which gases, etc., may flow are more reliably sealed, thereby allowing for more efficient directional discharge toward the exhaust port H1. Furthermore, the block member 500 may possess at least one of flame retardancy and fire resistance.

[0107] The fireproof cover component 400 and the block component 500 can be configured as a single unit.

[0108] Block component 500 can be disposed at one end of fireproof cover component 400. Here, one end of fireproof cover component 400 refers to the side facing the rear of module housing 300. See below for reference. Figures 8 to 11 Briefly inspect the assembly structure of the fireproof cover component 400 and the block component 500.

[0109] like Figure 8 As shown, the cell assembly 100 and busbar frames 600A and 600B can be assembled and housed in the U-shaped frame 311, as described above. Then, as... Figure 9 As shown, the fireproof cover component 400 is placed on top of the cell assembly 100. At this time, the block component 500 can be set in a state parallel to the fireproof cover component 400.

[0110] After that, as Figure 10 As shown, the block member 500 is folded and assembled to the rear busbar frame 600B. At this time, the block member 500 can be in the form of being bent and extended from one end of the fireproof cover member 400. Then, the fireproof cover member 400 is pressed down with the aforementioned top plate 312, and the two edges of the top plate 312 and the top of the U-shaped frame 311 are welded and fixed. Then, the rear end cover 630 is assembled to the housing body 310. Therefore, the block member 500 can be located in the space between the rear busbar frame 600B and the rear end cover 330.

[0111] The block member 500 can be configured to suppress gas movement along the stacking direction (X direction) of the battery cell 110 in the space between the rear busbar frame 600B and the rear end cover 330. That is, the block member 500 can be disposed outside the rear busbar frame 600B and can be configured to block the lateral movement of gas through the through hole H2 of the rear busbar 600B.

[0112] According to this embodiment, since the block member 500 can suppress the movement of exhaust gases and the like along the stacking direction of the battery cells 110, heat transfer between the battery cells 110 can be suppressed or prevented. Furthermore, since the block member 500 can guide exhaust gases and the like toward the exhaust port H1, the directional discharge of exhaust gases and the like can be guided more reliably.

[0113] More specifically, multiple block members 500 can be configured. These multiple block members 500 can be arranged to be spaced apart from each other along the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 (i.e., the left-right direction of the rear busbar frame 600B). For example, as in... Figure 10 and Figure 11 In the illustrated embodiment, the block member 500 can be disposed between the busbar 700 and the electrode lead 112 connected thereto. In other words, the block member 500 can be arranged between the busbars without obstructing the through-hole H2.

[0114] Furthermore, the multiple block members 500 can be positioned so as not to obstruct the vent H1 of the rear end cover 330, and can be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. That is, the block members 500 can be located at a position offset from the vent H1.

[0115] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 110, the lateral movement of exhaust gases, flames, etc., may be restricted by the block member 500 in the space between the rear busbar frame 600B and the rear end cover 330. As a result, gases, flames, etc., can be guided and discharged to the rear side of the module housing 300 through the exhaust port H1 adjacent to the specific battery cell 110 where the thermal event occurred. Consequently, the movement of exhaust gases, etc., from the battery cell 110 where the thermal event occurred to other battery cells 110 and the dissipation of heat can be suppressed or prevented.

[0116] Furthermore, the block member 500 can be configured to extend along the height direction of the rear busbar frame 600B. That is, the height of the block member 500 can be configured to correspond to the height of the rear busbar frame 600B.

[0117] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, the block member 500 can more reliably divide the space along the height direction of the rear busbar frame 600B. In this way, it is more reliable to prevent exhaust gases and the like from moving into other spaces where adjacent battery cells 110 are located.

[0118] Furthermore, block component 500 may include an elastic material. Furthermore, block component 500 may include a material with high heat resistance. Furthermore, block component 500 may include a material with high flame retardancy. Furthermore, block component 500 may include a material with electrical insulating properties. For example, block component 500 may include a silicone material.

[0119] Therefore, the block member 500 can be configured to be pressurized in the longitudinal direction by the rear manifold frame 600B and the rear end cap 330. In this case, the block member 500 can be in close contact with the rear manifold frame 600B and the rear end cap 330, thereby more reliably preventing leakage of exhaust gases, flames, etc. through the gap.

[0120] Furthermore, according to this embodiment of the present disclosure, by fixing the block member 500 to the rear busbar frame 600B and the rear end cover 330, bending deformation of the block member 500 can be suppressed. Therefore, even in the event of a thermal event, the possibility of high-temperature, high-pressure exhaust gases or flames being transferred to another space while pushing the block member 500 can be reduced.

[0121] Furthermore, the block member 500 can be configured such that at least a portion of the rear busbar frame 600B is inserted therein.

[0122] Specifically, refer to Figures 12 to 14 The rear busbar frame 600B may further include block connectors 630. The block connectors 630 may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of block members 500. The block connectors 630 may be configured such that at least a portion of the outer surface of the rear busbar frame 600B protrudes outward. The block connectors 630 may protrude further outward than the outer surface of the busbar connectors 620. The block connectors 630 may be provided between adjacent through holes H2.

[0123] Block component 500 can be configured to be assembled to block connection part 630.

[0124] For example, the block member 500 may have an insertion groove 511 on its rear surface. The insertion groove 511 may be configured as a groove formed by recessing at least a portion of the block member 500. By fitting the block connector 630 into the insertion groove 511, the block member 500 may be secured to the rear busbar frame 600B.

[0125] According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, the adhesion and fixation of the block member 500 to the rear busbar frame 600B can be reliably ensured. Therefore, the space between the rear busbar frame 600B and the rear end cap 330 can be more reliably and stably separated by the block member 500, and lateral movement of gas or flame in the space can be prevented.

[0126] Reference Figures 15 to 17 The battery module according to the embodiments of this disclosure may further include an exhaust blocking block 800.

[0127] The exhaust blocking block 800 can be disposed in the space between the cell assembly 100 and the busbar frames 600A and 600B. The exhaust blocking block 800 can be configured to guide exhaust gases, flames, etc., to be discharged in one direction, i.e., towards the rear of the battery module 10. In particular, the exhaust blocking block 800 can be configured to suppress the discharge of exhaust gases, flames, etc., in directions other than the rearward direction, especially suppressing the discharge towards the front.

[0128] In this embodiment, the exhaust blocking block 800 is provided at both the front and rear sides of the cell assembly 100, but it can be omitted at the rear side of the cell assembly 100 and only provided at the front side of the cell assembly 100.

[0129] Specifically, the venting block 800 can be arranged on the front and / or rear side of the receiving portion 111a of the battery cell 110. In other words, since there is a difference between the thickness of the cell platform 111b and the thickness of the receiving portion 111a of the battery cell 110, there is a blank space around the cell platform 111b, and the venting block 800 can be inserted into the blank space to fill it. In addition, the venting block 800 can be configured to pressurize the side surface of the cell platform 111b of the bag housing 111.

[0130] Furthermore, the vent block 800 can be configured to extend along the height direction of the battery cell 110. For example, the vent block 800 can be configured to extend as much as the height of the receiving portion 111a of the battery cell 110.

[0131] The exhaust block 800 may include an elastic material. Furthermore, the exhaust block 800 may include a material with high heat resistance. Additionally, the exhaust block 800 may include a material with high flame retardancy. Furthermore, the exhaust block 800 may include a material with electrical insulating properties. For example, the exhaust block 800 may include a silicone material.

[0132] Multiple vent blocking blocks 800 can be provided. These multiple vent blocking blocks 800 can be arranged along the stacking direction (i.e., left-right direction) of the battery cells 110. The vent blocking blocks 800 can be disposed between the battery cells 110. The vent blocking blocks 800 can be disposed on at least one side of the cell platform 111b. That is, at least one side surface of the vent blocking block 800 can be configured to contact the cell platform 111b. In other words, the vent blocking block 800 can be configured to contact the front and / or rear side of the receiving portion 111a, and simultaneously contact the cell platform 111b. According to this embodiment of the present disclosure, the vent blocking blocks 800 can fix the cell platform 111b.

[0133] The exhaust blocking blocks 800 can be disposed on both sides of the barrier member 120. The exhaust blocking blocks 800 can be configured to compress the barrier member 120 from both sides. That is, the exhaust blocking blocks 800 can compress the barrier member 120 in the left-right direction. As a result, the position of the barrier member 120 can be fixed. In addition, the exhaust blocking blocks 800 can prevent the barrier member 120 from bending and deforming.

[0134] The vent block 800 can be arranged to face the inside of the busbar frames 600A and 600B. In this case, even if the busbar frames 600A and 600B move toward the cell assembly 100 due to external impacts, the vent block 800 will absorb the impact, thereby preventing damage to the battery cell 100.

[0135] In addition, such as Figures 13 to 15 As shown, a portion of the cell platform 111b of a plurality of battery cells 110 located on the rear side of the cell assembly 100 can be configured to be pressed by the vent block 800, and as... Figures 16 to 17 As shown, all cell platforms 111b of the plurality of battery cells located on the front side of the cell assembly 100 can be configured to be compressed by the exhaust block 800.

[0136] In other words, on the front side of the battery module 10, the venting block 800 can be disposed between the cell platforms 111b of the battery cells 110 to provide a compressive force on the cell platforms 111b. In other words, the cell platforms 111b located on the front side of the cell assembly 100 can be compressed in the left-right direction by the venting block 800. However, the cell platforms 111b located on the rear side of the cell assembly 100 can be configured not to be completely compressed in the left-right direction by the venting block 800.

[0137] In this configuration, when the internal pressure of the battery cell 110 increases, the rear cell platform 111b can open before the front cell platform 111b. As a result, gas emission through the front cell platform 111b is suppressed, and gas can be emitted through the rear cell platform 111b of the battery cell 110.

[0138] In this manner, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure described above, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 110, the gas or flame can be directed to be discharged toward the rear side of the cell assembly 100. Furthermore, the accumulation or propagation of heat within the battery module 10 caused by gas, flame, etc., can be minimized, and the gas, flame, etc., can be smoothly discharged to the rear side of the battery module 10.

[0139] Figure 18 This is a schematic perspective view illustrating a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0140] Reference Figure 18 The battery pack 1 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more battery modules 10 as described above. The battery pack 1 according to the present disclosure may also include a battery pack housing 2 for accommodating a BMS (Battery Management System) for integrated control of charging and discharging of one or more battery modules 10, current sensors, fuses, and the aforementioned components.

[0141] Reference Figure 18 Multiple battery modules 10 can be arranged such that the front side equipped with module terminals 200 faces the interior of the battery pack housing 2. Furthermore, the rear side of the battery module 10, where the vent H1 is located, can be arranged to face the exterior of the battery pack housing 2.

[0142] In this configuration, when a thermal event occurs in the battery cell 110 inside the battery module 10, exhaust gases, flames, etc., are directionally discharged towards the rear of the battery module 10 to prevent heat from concentrating inside the battery pack housing 2. Furthermore, since the exhaust gases, flames, etc., discharged to the rear of the battery module 10 are adjacent to the outer wall of the battery pack housing 2, they can be more easily discharged to the outside of the battery pack 1. For reference, although not shown, a gas exhaust port can be provided in the outer wall of the battery pack housing 2.

[0143] Furthermore, according to this embodiment of the present disclosure, by minimizing the emission of gases, flames, etc., toward the module terminals 200, heat propagation to other adjacent battery modules 10 can be suppressed or prevented. Therefore, events such as fires or explosions caused by thermal runaway of the battery pack 1, which includes multiple battery modules 10, can be prevented or delayed.

[0144] Figure 19 This is a perspective view schematically illustrating a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0145] Reference Figure 19 The vehicle V according to embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more battery packs 1 or one or more battery modules 10 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The vehicle V according to the present disclosure may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The vehicle V includes four-wheeled vehicles and two-wheeled vehicles. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the vehicle V operates by receiving electricity from the battery pack 1 or the battery module 10.

[0146] This disclosure has been described in detail. However, it should be understood that when indicating preferred embodiments of this disclosure, detailed descriptions and specific examples are given only by way of illustration, as various modifications and variations within the scope of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0147] Furthermore, although terms indicating direction such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these terms are merely for ease of interpretation and may vary depending on the position of the target object or the observer's position.

Claims

1. A battery module, the battery module comprising: Battery cell assembly, wherein the battery cell assembly has a plurality of battery cells; A module housing configured to house the battery cell assembly and having a vent on one side to allow gases generated from the battery cell to be released to the outside; Module terminals, which are electrically connected to the cell assembly and exposed on the other side of the module housing; A fireproof cover component is configured to cover the top of the cell assembly to suppress the upward emission of gas from the battery cell; as well as A block component configured to separate the space between one side of the module housing and the cell assembly to guide gas toward the vent.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fireproof cover component and the block component are formed as one unit.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The block component bends and extends from one end of the fireproof cover component.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, in, The fireproof cover component is made of a compressible material to fill the space between the top of the battery cell assembly and the upper surface of the module housing.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising: A busbar, which is connected to electrode leads respectively disposed to the plurality of battery cells; as well as A busbar frame is configured to support the busbar and cover the front or rear side of the cell assembly.

6. The battery module according to claim 5, in, The busbar frame covering the rear side of the battery cell assembly faces the module housing and has multiple through holes for gas passage.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The block component is disposed on the outside of the busbar frame and is configured to block gas passing through the through hole from moving in the direction of the battery cell stack in the space between one side of the module housing and the busbar frame.

8. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The block components are configured in multiple ways, such that the multiple block components are arranged to be spaced apart along the direction of the battery cell stack.

9. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The block member is configured to extend in the height direction of the busbar frame.

10. The battery module according to claim 6, in, The block components are configured to be connected by being assembled to block connectors formed to protrude from the busbar frame.

11. The battery module according to claim 6, further comprising: An exhaust blocking block is disposed in the space between the battery cell assembly and the busbar frame. The battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell, and The exhaust blocking block is disposed on at least one side of the cell platform where the electrode leads are led out from the battery cell.

12. The battery module according to claim 11, in, The exhaust block is configured to pressurize the side surface of the cell platform.

13. The battery module according to claim 11, in, Multiple exhaust blocking blocks are respectively set at the front and rear sides of the battery cell assembly, and In this configuration, the cell platforms of all the plurality of battery cells located on the front side of the cell assembly are compressed by the exhaust blocking block, and a portion of the cell platforms of the plurality of battery cells located on the rear side of the cell assembly are compressed by the exhaust blocking block.

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

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

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