Battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack capable of detecting the ignition of battery cells before ignition and thereby shortening a fire extinguishing time to improve safety.SOLUTION: A battery pack includes: a battery module having battery cells electrically connected and including vents; a smoke generating device configured to generate smoke in response to a temperature of the battery cells being higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detection device configured to detect the smoke generated from the smoke generating device and to generate an alarm signal; an agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing tube connected to the battery module and configured to store a fire extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing tube; and a fire extinguishing receiver configured to receive the alarm signal of the smoke detection device and to generate a supply signal causing the fire extinguishing agent in the agent storage unit to be supplied to the fire extinguishing tube.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack. [Background technology]

[0002] Recently, high-output secondary batteries using non-aqueous electrolytes with high energy density have been developed, and a battery pack is constructed by connecting a plurality of the above-mentioned high-output secondary batteries in series so that the batteries can be used to drive the motors of devices requiring large power, such as electric vehicles.

[0003] Such battery packs are constructed by connecting several to several dozens of battery cells to form one battery pack, and the heat generated in each battery cell must be easily dissipated, so temperature management of the secondary battery is of utmost importance.

[0004] In addition, a rise in temperature of a secondary battery can lead to a fire, and due to the characteristics of a battery pack, if a fire occurs, it is difficult to extinguish it. Battery packs are generally high-capacity and high-output because they are made up of multiple battery cells, and therefore technologies to improve safety are being researched.

[0005] The above information disclosed in the Background of the Invention section is intended to enhance the understanding of the background of the invention only, and may therefore include information that does not constitute prior art. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention provides a battery pack capable of detecting a fire in a battery cell before the fire occurs, thereby shortening the time required for extinguishing the fire and improving safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The battery pack according to the present invention may include a battery module to which battery cells having vents are electrically connected, a smoke generating device that generates smoke when the temperature of the battery cells is higher than a reference temperature, a smoke detection device that detects the smoke generated by the smoke generating device and generates an alarm signal, a fire extinguishing agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module and storing an extinguishing agent to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe, and a fire extinguishing receiving panel that receives an alarm signal from the smoke detection device and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply the extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe.

[0008] The smoke generated by the smoke generating device may have an externally identifiable color.

[0009] When a fire occurs in the battery pack, the extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe can be injected into the battery cells.

[0010] The smoke generating device may be located external to the battery module.

[0011] The battery may further include a temperature detector that detects a temperature of the battery cell and transmits an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device when the temperature of the battery cell is higher than a reference temperature.

[0012] The smoke generator may be configured in the form of a sheet attached to the surface of each of the battery cells.

[0013] The battery pack according to the present invention may include a battery module to which battery cells having vents are electrically connected, a smoke detector that detects internal gas discharged through the vent and generates an alarm signal, a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module, an agent storage unit that stores an extinguishing agent to be supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe, and a fire extinguishing receiving panel that receives the alarm signal from the smoke detector and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply the extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe.

[0014] The smoke detector may include an intake pipe connected to the battery module for intake of internal gas.

[0015] The battery cell can release internal gas through the vent when the internal pressure is greater than a reference pressure.

[0016] When a fire occurs in the battery pack, the extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe can be sprayed onto the battery cells. Effect of the Invention

[0017] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention senses the temperature of a battery cell before a fire occurs in a battery module, and supplies a fire extinguishing agent to the inside of a fire extinguishing tube in advance by operating a smoke generating device, thereby immediately injecting the fire extinguishing agent into the battery cell when a fire occurs, thereby shortening the fire extinguishing time and preventing the fire from spreading.

[0018] In addition, the battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a smoke generating device that detects the temperature of the battery cells and generates smoke before a fire occurs in the battery module, thereby notifying the outside of a dangerous state of the battery cells and preventing personal injury. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those having ordinary skill in the art, and the following embodiments may be modified in various different forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure more complete and complete, and to fully convey the disclosure of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0022] In the following drawings, the thickness and size of each layer are exaggerated for convenience and clarity of description, and the same reference numerals in the drawings refer to the same elements. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any one and all combinations of one or more of the listed items. In addition, in this specification, "connected" means not only when member A and member B are directly connected, but also when member A and member B are indirectly connected with member C interposed between them.

[0023] The terms used in this specification are used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used in this specification, the singular form can include the plural form unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Also, as used in this specification, "comprise" and / or "comprising" specify the presence of the mentioned shapes, numbers, steps, operations, members, elements, and / or groups thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other shapes, numbers, operations, members, elements, and / or groups.

[0024] In this specification, terms such as first and second are used to describe various members, parts, regions, layers, and / or portions, but it is clear that these members, parts, regions, layers, and / or portions should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one member, part, region, layer, or portion from another region, layer, or portion. Thus, a first member, part, region, layer, or portion described below can refer to a second member, part, region, layer, or portion without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

[0025] Space-related terms such as "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," and "upper" are used to facilitate understanding of one element or feature from another element or feature shown in the drawings. Such space-related terms are used for easier understanding of the present invention depending on various process conditions or use conditions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, if an element or feature in the drawing is inverted, an element described as "below" or "below" becomes "upper" or "upper." Therefore, "below" is a concept that encompasses "upper" or "upper."

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to enable those skilled in the art to easily carry out the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Herein, parts having similar configurations and operations are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the specification. In addition, when a part is electrically coupled to another part, this includes not only the case where the part is directly coupled to another part, but also the case where the part is coupled to another part via another element therebetween.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 110, a temperature sensor 120, a smoke generator 130, a smoke detector 140, a fire extinguishing receiving panel 150, and a drug storage unit 160.

[0030] The battery module 110 may include a plurality of battery cells 111. In some examples, the plurality of battery cells 111 may be connected in series and / or parallel and housed in a housing. For example, the battery cells 111 may be cylindrical battery cells or prismatic battery cells. The battery cells 111 may have a shape in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a case and a cap plate or a cap assembly is coupled to an upper portion of the case. In addition, the battery cells 111 may include a vent 111a that can be broken to release internal gas when internal gas is generated.

[0031] The temperature sensing unit 120 may sense the temperature of the battery module 110. In some examples, the temperature sensing unit 120 may sense the temperature of each of the battery cells 111. For example, the temperature sensing unit 120 may include a temperature sensor that is installed in each of the battery cells 111 and measures the temperature of the battery cells 111. In addition, the temperature sensing unit 120 may sense the temperature of the battery cells 111 and transmit temperature information of the battery cells 111 to the smoke generating device 130. When the temperature of the battery cells 111 is equal to or higher than a reference temperature, the temperature sensing unit 120 may transmit an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device 130. For example, the reference temperature of the temperature sensing unit 120 may be set to 100°C, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The reference temperature set in the temperature sensing unit 120 may be changed according to a user's design. However, the reference temperature may be set to a temperature lower than the ignition temperature of the battery cells 111. In practice, the battery cells 111 may ignite at approximately 150°C.

[0032] The smoke generating device 130 may generate smoke when an abnormal signal from the temperature detector 120 is transmitted. When the temperature of the battery cell 111 rises abnormally, the smoke generating device 130 may generate smoke when the abnormal signal is transmitted from the temperature detector 120, thereby notifying the outside of a dangerous situation. In some examples, the smoke generating device 130 may include a drive circuit that can be operated when the abnormal signal from the temperature detector 120 is received. In some examples, when the abnormal signal from the temperature detector 120 is transmitted, the drive circuit operates and the internal chemicals react with each other to generate smoke. The smoke generated by the smoke generating device 130 may have a color that makes it easy to identify the smoke from the outside, such as red or blue. In some examples, the smoke generating device 130 may be installed on the outer surface of the battery module 110, for example, in a housing in which the battery cell 111 is housed. The smoke generating device 130 can prevent a fire by generating smoke to notify the outside when an abnormal signal is transmitted from the temperature detector 120 notifying an abnormal temperature rise of the battery cell 111 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, and also notifying the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 via the smoke detector 140. For example, a manager or worker can check the smoke generated by the smoke generating device 130 and inform people nearby to evacuate, thereby preventing a personal injury accident due to a fire. The smoke generated by the smoke generating device 130 can be in a sufficient amount to be detected by the smoke detector 140 and can contain components that are harmless to the human body.

[0033] The smoke detector 140 can detect smoke generated by the smoke generator 130. The smoke detector 140 can detect smoke and transmit an alarm signal to the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to notify the fire extinguishing device 150 of the generation of smoke. In some examples, the smoke detector 140 can be installed in a portion adjacent to the smoke generator 130. For example, the smoke detector 140 can be installed on a ceiling of a portion where the battery module 110 is installed. Of course, the smoke detector 140 can detect not only smoke generated by the smoke generator 130 but also fire smoke generated when a fire occurs in the battery module 110.

[0034] The fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 can receive an alarm signal from the smoke detector 140 and transmit a supply signal to the agent storage unit 160 to supply extinguishing agent. The fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 can quickly put out the fire by commanding the agent storage unit 160 to supply extinguishing agent because the temperature of the battery module 110 is rising through the smoke detector 140, which may cause a fire (or ignition).

[0035] The agent storage unit 160 stores an extinguishing agent therein. The agent storage unit 160 may include a fire extinguishing pipe 161 that supplies the extinguishing agent to the battery module 110. In some examples, the length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be about 50 m, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The length of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be changed depending on the installation location of the battery module 110 and / or the agent storage unit 160. In some examples, the extinguishing agent may include a substance that can suppress a fire that occurs in the battery module 110. For example, the extinguishing agent may include one or more of argon, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Any type of extinguishing agent that can suppress a fire may be used.

[0036] When the agent storage unit 160 receives a supply signal from the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to supply extinguishing agent, the agent storage unit 160 supplies the extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe 161, so that the inside of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be pre-filled with the extinguishing agent before a fire occurs in the battery module 110. Therefore, in the present invention, when a fire occurs in the battery module 110, the extinguishing agent filled inside the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be immediately sprayed onto the battery module 110 to extinguish the battery module 110, thereby shortening the time to suppress the fire (or the time to extinguish the fire).

[0037] For example, when the length of the extinguishing pipe 161 is about 50 m, it may take about 20 to 30 seconds for the smoke detector 140 to detect smoke after a fire breaks out, transmit the smoke to the extinguishing receiving panel 150, and for the extinguishing receiving panel 150 to transmit a signal to the agent storage unit 160 to supply an extinguishing agent, and for the extinguishing agent to be sprayed to the battery module 110. In this way, during the tens of seconds it takes to recognize the fire after the fire breaks out and spray the extinguishing agent to the battery module 110, the fire that broke out in the battery module 110 may instantly spread and lead to a large fire. In this case, even if the same extinguishing agent is supplied from the agent storage unit 160, the fire may not be extinguished or may take even longer to extinguish.

[0038] However, in the present invention, before a fire occurs in the battery module 110, the inside of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be filled with extinguishing agent in advance by operating the smoke generating device 130, so that when a fire occurs, the extinguishing agent can be immediately sprayed onto the battery module 110, shortening the time required for extinguishing the fire and preventing the fire from spreading. Also, in the present invention, the longer the distance between the battery module 110 and the agent storage unit 160, the more effectively the fire can be prevented.

[0039] In some examples, a part of the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may melt due to a fire occurring in the battery module 110, and the extinguishing agent contained inside the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be sprayed. In some examples, the fire extinguishing pipe 161 may be installed in a form that encases the battery module 110.

[0040] In some examples, when the agent storage unit 160 receives a supply signal from the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 to supply the extinguishing agent, the agent storage unit 160 supplies the extinguishing agent to the fire extinguishing pipe 161, and the extinguishing agent supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe 161 can be immediately sprayed to the battery cell 111. In this case, there is an effect that the battery cell 111 can be cooled by spraying the extinguishing agent to the battery cell 111 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 2 , a battery pack 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 110 , a smoke generating device 230 , a smoke detector 140 , a fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 , and a drug storage unit 160 .

[0043] The smoke generator 230 may be installed in the battery module 110. In some examples, the smoke generator 230 may be installed or attached to the surface of each battery cell 111. The smoke generator 230 may be formed in a sheet shape and may contain chemicals therein that undergo a chemical reaction to generate smoke when a reference temperature is reached. Here, the reference temperature may be set to 100° C., but is not limited thereto in the present invention. The reference temperature set in the smoke generator 230 may be changed according to a user's design.

[0044] When the temperature of the battery cell 111 rises above a reference temperature, the smoke generating device 230 generates smoke to notify the outside, and also notifies the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 via the smoke detector 140, thereby preventing a fire.

[0045] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, a battery pack 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module 110, a smoke detector 340, a fire extinguishing receiving panel 150, and a drug storage unit 160.

[0047] The smoke detector 340 may include a suction pipe 341 connected to the battery module 110. The suction pipe 341 may suck in internal gas generated from the battery cell 111. The smoke detector 340 may detect the internal gas generated from the battery cell 111 through the suction pipe 341. In some examples, when the temperature of the battery cell 111 increases, the internal pressure increases and the internal gas is generated, and if the internal pressure is equal to or higher than a reference pressure, the vent 111a may break and the internal gas may be discharged to the outside of the battery cell 111. At this time, the smoke detector 340 may detect the internal gas discharged from the battery cell 111 through the suction pipe 341 and transmit an alarm signal notifying the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150 of the gas generation.

[0048] In this way, the smoke detector 340 detects the internal gas generated from the battery cell 111 before a fire occurs in the battery module 110 and notifies the fire extinguishing receiving panel 150, so that the fire extinguishing agent can be supplied and filled in advance inside the fire extinguishing pipe 161. Therefore, when a fire occurs, the fire extinguishing agent can be immediately sprayed into the battery module 110, shortening the fire extinguishing time and preventing the fire from spreading.

[0049] What has been described above is merely one embodiment for implementing the battery pack according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. It can be said that the technical concept of the present invention is within the scope of the following claims, to the extent that anyone having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 100, 200, 300: Battery pack 110: Battery module 111: Battery cell 111a: Vent 120: Temperature sensing part 130, 230: Smoke Generator 140, 340: Smoke detector 150: Fire extinguishing receiving panel 160: Drug storage section 161: Fire pipe 341: Suction pipe

Claims

1. a battery module in which vented battery cells are electrically connected; a smoke generating device that generates smoke when the temperature of the battery cell is higher than a reference temperature; a smoke detector that detects smoke generated by the smoke generating device and generates an alarm signal; a fire extinguishing agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module, the fire extinguishing agent being stored in the fire extinguishing agent storage unit and being supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; a fire extinguishing receiving panel which receives an alarm signal from the smoke detector and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply the fire extinguishing agent to the fire pipe.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the smoke generated by the smoke generating device has a color that is distinguishable from the outside.

3. 2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein when a fire occurs in the battery pack, a fire extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe is injected into the battery cells.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the smoke generating device is installed outside the battery module.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor that senses a temperature of the battery cell and transmits an abnormality signal to the smoke generating device when the temperature of the battery cell is higher than a reference temperature.

6. 2. The battery pack of claim 1, wherein the smoke generating device is configured in a sheet shape attached to a surface of each of the battery cells.

7. a battery module in which vented battery cells are electrically connected; a smoke detector that detects the internal gas discharged through the vent and generates an alarm signal; a fire extinguishing agent storage unit including a fire extinguishing pipe connected to the battery module, the fire extinguishing agent being stored in the fire extinguishing agent storage unit and being supplied to the fire extinguishing pipe; a fire extinguishing receiving panel which receives an alarm signal from the smoke detector and generates a supply signal to the agent storage unit to supply the fire extinguishing agent to the fire pipe.

8. The battery pack according to claim 7 , wherein the smoke detection device comprises an intake pipe connected to the battery module to intake the internal gas.

9. 8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the battery cell releases internal gas through the vent when an internal pressure is greater than a reference pressure.

10. 8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein when a fire occurs in the battery pack, the extinguishing agent pre-supplied in the fire extinguishing pipe is injected into the battery cells.

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