Safer battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery pack which is still safe even when a heat event is happening.SOLUTION: A battery pack according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a battery module with at least one battery cell; a control module connected to the battery module to manage the battery module; and a fire extinction tank connected to at least one of the battery module and the control module, the fire extinction tank storing an extinguishing agent.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly, to a battery pack configured to ensure safety even when a thermal event occurs.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0147382 filed on October 29, 2021, and all of the contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated into this application.

Background Art

[0003] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, lithium secondary batteries, etc. Among these, lithium secondary batteries have attracted attention because they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, can be charged and discharged freely, have a very low self-discharge rate, and have a high energy density.

[0004] Such lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material, respectively. In addition, a lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate each coated with a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material that seals and houses such an electrode assembly together with an electrolytic solution, that is, a battery case.

[0005] In addition, lithium secondary batteries can be divided into a can-type secondary battery in which the electrode assembly is built into a metal can and a pouch-type secondary battery in which the electrode assembly is built into a pouch of an aluminum laminate sheet according to the shape of the exterior material.

[0006] Such secondary batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium- and large-sized devices such as automobiles and energy storage systems (ESS), and their use is increasing rapidly. Furthermore, recently, residential energy storage systems are widely used to store and supply electricity for use in buildings such as houses and buildings. And the core configuration of such a residential energy storage system can be said to be a battery pack.

[0007] Including battery packs used in such residential ESSs and various other battery packs, a plurality of battery cells (secondary batteries) are included in order to increase the capacity and / or output. In particular, in order to increase the energy density of the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells are often arranged densely in a very narrow space.

[0008] In such a battery pack configuration, one of the typically important problems is safety. In particular, when a thermal event occurs in any one of the plurality of battery cells included in the battery pack, it is necessary to suppress the propagation of the event to other battery cells. Furthermore, vent gas may be ejected from a battery cell in which thermal runaway or the like has occurred, and such vent gas may cause thermal runaway or the like in other battery cells, leading to thermal propagation.

[0009] Also, the plurality of battery cells included in the battery pack may exist in a form grouped into two or more battery modules. At this time, it is necessary to suppress the propagation of thermal runaway that occurs inside a specific battery module to other battery modules.

[0010] If heat transfer between battery cells or battery modules is not properly suppressed, heat events can spread to the entire plurality of battery cells or battery modules included in the battery pack, leading to more serious problems such as ignition or explosion of the entire battery pack. Furthermore, the ignition or explosion that occurs in the battery pack can cause damage to the lives and property of people in the vicinity. In particular, in the case of a residential battery pack, if a fire or explosion occurs, it can endanger the safety of the people living in the house and spread to the house fire, causing extremely large damage.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a battery pack or the like whose structure is improved so as to appropriately control heat events occurring inside.

[0012] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0013] A battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a battery module including one or more battery cells, a control module connected to the battery module and configured to manage the battery module, and a fire extinguishing tank storing a fire extinguishing agent and coupled to at least one of the battery module and the control module.

[0014] Here, the fire extinguishing tank may be provided between the battery module and the control module.

[0015] Further, the control module may be configured to be detachable from at least one side of the battery module.

[0016] Further, the fire extinguishing tank may include tank fastening portions configured to be connectable to the control module and the battery module at the upper end and the lower end, respectively.

[0017] Further, the fire extinguishing tank may include a connection member for electrically connecting the battery module and the control module.

[0018] Further, the fire extinguishing tank may be located above the battery module and configured such that the fire extinguishing agent freely falls toward the battery module side.

[0019] Further, the fire extinguishing agent may include at least one of antifreeze, brine, and insulating oil.

[0020] Further, the fire extinguishing tank may include a rupture member configured to be rupturable under predetermined conditions and configured such that the fire extinguishing agent flows out when ruptured.

[0021] Further, the rupture member may be embodied as a glass valve.

[0022] Further, the battery module has an opening formed to communicate with the internal space, and the rupture member may be configured such that at least a part thereof is inserted into the opening of the battery module.

[0023] Further, when vent gas is discharged from the opening, the fire extinguishing tank may have a vent path formed such that the discharged vent gas moves.

[0024] Further, the battery pack includes two or more of the battery modules, and the fire extinguishing tank may be configured such that the fire extinguishing agent can be separately charged for each of the two or more battery modules.

[0025] Further, an energy storage system according to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery pack with improved safety can be provided.

[0027] In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, even if a thermal event occurs inside the battery pack, the thermal event can be quickly controlled.

[0028] Furthermore, among the plurality of battery cells included in the battery pack, if vent gas or the like is generated in some battery cells due to thermal runaway or the like, the temperature of the battery cells can be quickly lowered by injecting a fire extinguishing agent.

[0029] Therefore, according to such an aspect of the present invention, the propagation or fire of thermal runaway or the like to other battery cells or other battery modules due to heat or vent gas can be effectively prevented.

[0030] Also, according to one aspect of the present invention, even if a fire occurs inside the battery pack, a fire extinguishing agent, for example, a fire extinguishing agent in a liquid state, is injected and the fire can be immediately suppressed.

[0031] Therefore, according to such an aspect of the present invention, human and material damage caused by the spread of fire can be prevented or reduced.

[0032] Also, according to one aspect of the present invention, even when used in various external environments such as temperature and humidity, the fire suppression performance by the fire extinguishing agent can be stably ensured. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the fire extinguishing liquid is not easily frozen even when exposed at a sub-zero temperature for a long time, outdoor installation and use of the battery pack are possible.

[0033] Therefore, according to such an aspect of the present invention, it can be more advantageously applied to battery packs used outdoors, particularly residential battery packs.

[0034] Further, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module, a fire extinguishing agent can be introduced only into that battery module.

[0035] Therefore, according to such an aspect of the present invention, it is possible to control intensively and effectively the battery module in which an event has occurred among the plurality of battery modules. Also, according to such an aspect of the present invention, since the battery modules in which no event has occurred can be continuously used, it is possible to supply power continuously at a certain level or higher.

[0036] In addition, according to various embodiments of the present invention, other additional effects can be achieved. Regarding such various effects of the present invention, they will be described in detail in each embodiment, and the description will be omitted for effects that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

[0037] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and serve to further understand the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be construed as being limited only to the matters described in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0038]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0039] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. The inventor himself must interpret them in accordance with the meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention in accordance with the principle that he can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain the invention in the best way.

[0040] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0041] In addition, in this specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but such terms indicate relative positions and are for convenience of explanation only. It is obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that they can change depending on the position of the object and the position of the observer.

[0042] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the configuration of FIG. 1.

[0043] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module 100, a control module 200, and a fire extinguishing tank 300.

[0044] The battery module 100 may include one or more battery cells. Here, each battery cell may mean a secondary battery. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. Further, the battery cells provided in the battery module 100 may be pouch-type secondary batteries. However, other forms of secondary batteries, such as cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, may also be adopted in the battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Also, the battery module 100 may include a module case for housing the battery cells. In particular, the module case has a space inside, and a plurality of battery cells can be accommodated in such a space. For example, the module case may be formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as shown in FIG. 1 and may be configured to stand in the vertical (Z-axis direction) direction perpendicular to the ground.

[0046] The control module 200 can control the overall operation of the battery pack. In particular, the control module 200 can be electrically connected to the battery module 100. And the control module 200 can be configured to manage the battery module 100. In particular, the control module 200 can be configured to control the charging or discharging operation of the battery module 100. Also, the control module 200 can be configured to measure, calculate, receive, or control various electrical, physical, chemical properties, etc. of the battery module 100, the battery cells included therein, or its surrounding environment. For example, the control module 200 can measure, calculate, or control the voltage, current, temperature, SOC (State Of Charge), SOH (State Of Health), internal resistance, etc. of the battery cells or the battery module 100.

[0047] The control module 200 can be supplied with an operating power source from the battery module 100 for the management of the battery module 100. Also, the control module 200 can exchange various data with the battery module 100 or other external devices through a wired or wireless communication network.

[0048] The control module 200 can include various electrical components such as a BMS (Battery Management System), a relay, a current sensor, etc. Also, the control module 200 can include a control housing for housing such electrical components.

[0049] Also, the control module 200 can include pack terminals. Such pack terminals can be configured to connect the battery pack to an external charging device or discharging device. For example, the pack terminals can include a socket, a plug, a connector, etc. for connecting to a commercial power source or a load. In this case, the control module 200 can include a power path for transmitting and receiving charging power and discharging power between the battery module 100. Such a power path can function as a path for transmitting and receiving charging and discharging power between the pack terminals and the battery module 100.

[0050] The fire extinguishing tank 300 can store a fire extinguishing agent. Here, as the fire extinguishing agent, various substances that suppress or extinguish a fire or lower the temperature can be adopted. Further, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can include a tank housing for storing the fire extinguishing agent in an internal space.

[0051] The fire extinguishing tank 300 can be coupled to at least one of the battery module 100 and the control module 200. For example, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be coupled to the battery module 100. Further, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be coupled to the control module 200.

[0052] In particular, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be configured to be detachable. For example, the tank housing of the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the module case of the battery module 100. Further, the tank housing of the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be configured to be attachable to and detachable from the control housing of the control module 200.

[0053] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, by attaching the fire extinguishing tank 300 to the battery pack including the battery module 100 and the control module 200, the safety can be significantly improved. In particular, when an abnormal situation occurs in the battery pack, for example, when a thermal runaway occurs inside the battery module 100, or when a fire occurs in the battery module 100 or the control module 200, the occurrence of the fire can be suppressed or the occurring fire can be extinguished by the fire extinguishing agent. Further, the temperature of the battery module 100 and the control module 200 can be lowered to cut off the thermal runaway and overheating. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an increase in the risk of a fire or the like to other parts outside the battery pack due to an abnormal situation such as a fire or an overheating situation of the battery pack.

[0054] The fire extinguishing tank 300 can be mounted between the battery module 100 and the control module 200. In particular, the battery module 100 can be located below the control module 200. In this case, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be located above the battery module 100 and below the control module 200.

[0055] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, in the battery pack including the battery module 100 and the control module 200, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be arranged adjacent to both the battery module 100 and the control module 200. Thereby, when a thermal event occurs in the battery module 100 and the control module 200, it is possible to respond quickly and effectively.

[0056] Here, the control module 200 can be configured to be detachable from at least one side of the battery module 100. This will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration in which the fire extinguishing tank 300 is removed from the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration in which the fire extinguishing tank 300 is assembled with respect to the configuration of the battery pack in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the control module 200 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] First, referring to FIG. 3, different from the configuration shown in FIG. 1, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may not be interposed between the control module 200 and the battery module 100. Further, the control module 200 can be directly mounted on the upper part of the battery module 100 with the fire extinguishing tank 300 not located below. Also, after the control module 200 is mounted on the upper part of the battery module 100, it can be further configured to be separable.

[0059] For this purpose, the battery module 100 and the control module 200 can be provided with a configuration for electrically and mechanically coupling to each other.

[0060] For example, as shown at E1 in FIG. 4, the battery module 100 may be provided with a module connector for electrical connection at the upper part. And, as shown at E2 in FIG. 5, the control module 200 may be provided with a control connector at the lower part. At this time, the control connector E2 may be configured to be directly connectable to the module connector E1. In particular, the module connector E1 and the control connector E2 are electrically connected to each other, and charge / discharge power sources and electrical signals (data) and the like may be transmitted. In particular, the battery module 100 and the control module 200 may each be provided with a power connector for transmitting and receiving a charge / discharge power source and a communication connector for transmitting and receiving an electrical signal separately.

[0061] Also, as shown at C1 in FIG. 4, the battery module 100 may have a module fastening part formed at the upper part. And, as shown at C2 in FIG. 5, the control module 200 may have a control fastening part formed at the lower part. Here, the control fastening part C2 and the module fastening part C1 may be configured to be coupled and fixed to each other. For example, the module fastening part C1 and the control fastening part C2 may be configured to be coupled to each other by bolt tightening. And, by such fastening and releasing of the module fastening part C1 and the control fastening part C2, the control fastening part C2 may be directly attached to or separated from the module fastening part C1.

[0062] In this way, the battery module 100 and the control module 200 may be configured to be directly mechanically and electrically coupled to each other. In particular, the control module 200 may be coupled to the battery module 100 in a plug-in manner in which it is mounted on the battery module 100 and an electrical connection is made. However, in the case of the battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be interposed in the space between the battery module 100 and the control module 200.

[0063] Particularly, even if the battery pack is manufactured to be available in the form as shown in FIG. 3, the battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention can be embodied such that a fire extinguishing tank 300 is inserted and mounted between the battery module 100 and the control module 200.

[0064] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, while maximizing the utilization of the structure and production line of the existing battery pack, the safety by the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be ensured. In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in the configuration of the battery pack in which the battery module 100 and the control module 200 are directly mounted, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be configured to be interposed between the battery module 100 and the control module 200, so that the safety against a thermal event can be ensured.

[0065] The fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured to be mechanically coupled to the battery module 100 and / or the control module 200. For this purpose, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may include a tank fastening portion. This will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.

[0066] FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views schematically showing the form of the fire extinguishing tank 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention in a top view and a bottom view. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a partial configuration of the battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, it can be said that FIG. 8 shows the cross-sectional configuration along the line A1-A1' in FIG. 1.

[0067] First, referring to FIG. 6, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may include a tank fastening portion for coupling to the control module 200 at the upper end, as shown by C32. Such a tank fastening portion C32 is a fastening portion configuration provided in the tank housing of the fire extinguishing tank 300 and may be configured to be coupled to the control module 200. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the control fastening portion C2 is provided at the lower end of the control module 200, the tank fastening portion C32 formed at the upper end of the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured to be coupled to the control fastening portion C2. More specifically, the upper end tank fastening portion C32 may be configured to be bolt-coupled to the control fastening portion C2. For example, as shown by A2 in FIG. 8, the upper end tank fastening portion C32 and the control fastening portion C2 may be bolt-coupled to each other. And by such a bolt coupling between the control fastening portion C2 and the upper end tank fastening portion C32, the control module 200 and the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be fixed to each other.

[0068] In particular, as described in the foregoing embodiments, the control module 200 may be provided so as to be directly attachable to the battery module 100. In this case, the control fastening portion C2 may originally be configured to be coupled to the module fastening portion C1 of the battery module 100. However, in the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, the tank fastening portion C32 provided in the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured such that the control fastening portion C2 can be coupled thereto. For this purpose, the tank fastening portion C32 may have the same form and horizontal position as the module fastening portion C1. That is, the upper end tank fastening portion C32 may be configured to have compatibility to replace the module fastening portion C1 with respect to the control fastening portion C2.

[0069] In addition, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be provided with a tank fastening portion for coupling to the battery module 100 at the lower end. For example, referring to FIG. 7, the tank fastening portion may be provided at the edge of the lower end of the fire extinguishing tank 300 as shown at C31 and may be configured to couple to the battery module 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when the module fastening portion C1 is formed at the upper end of the battery module 100, the tank fastening portion C31 at the lower end of the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured to be capable of coupling to such a module fastening portion C1.

[0070] More specifically, the lower end tank fastening portion C31 may be configured to be bolt-coupled to the module fastening portion C1. For example, in FIG. 8, as shown by A2’, the lower end tank fastening portion C31 and the module fastening portion C1 may be bolt-coupled to each other. Then, by the bolt coupling between the module fastening portion C1 and the lower end tank fastening portion C31, the battery module 100 and the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be fixed to each other.

[0071] Furthermore, as described in the above-described embodiment, the battery module 100 may be configured to be directly coupled to the control module 200. In this case, the module fastening portion C1 may originally be provided in a configuration for coupling to the control fastening portion C2 of the control module 200. However, in the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, the tank fastening portion C31 provided on the fire extinguishing tank 300 may have the same form and horizontal position as the control fastening portion C2 so as to be able to couple to the module fastening portion C1. That is, the lower end tank fastening portion C31 may be configured to have compatibility to replace the control fastening portion C2 with respect to the module fastening portion C1.

[0072] According to such an embodiment configuration of the present invention, in a battery pack in which the battery module 100 and the control module 200 are directly coupled, a configuration in which the fire extinguishing tank 300 is assembled in the space therebetween can be easily implemented. In particular, in this case, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be used interchangeably without changing the configurations of the conventional battery module 100 and control module 200.

[0073] Also, in the case of the battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention, the battery module 100, the fire extinguishing tank 300, and the control module 200 may be configured to be sequentially stacked upward. According to the above-described implementation configuration, such a stacked state can be stably maintained.

[0074] On the other hand, for other reasons such as stable connectivity and assembly convenience, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be provided with various forms of fastening parts for mechanically coupling with the battery module 100 and / or the control module 200. For example, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be mechanically coupled with the battery module 100 and / or the control module 200 in various ways such as hook coupling, insertion coupling, and rivet coupling.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 8, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be provided with a connection member 330. Here, the connection member 330 is a component configured to electrically connect the battery module 100 and the control module 200. In particular, the connection member 330 may be interposed between the module connector E1 provided on the battery module 100 and the control connector E2 provided on the control module 200 and configured to connect them. Further, the connection member 330 may be configured such that both ends are coupled to the module connector E1 and the control connector E2 so that charge / discharge power supply and / or electrical signals, etc., can be transmitted.

[0076] In a specific example, the connection member 330 can be configured in the form of a cable that extends long in one direction so that power or an electrical signal can move. And the connection member 330 can be provided with tank connectors at both ends of the cable. For example, as shown by E31 in FIGS. 7 and 8, the connection member 330 can be provided with a tank connector at the lower end. And such a lower-end tank connector E31 can be connected to the module connector E1 of the battery module 100. Also, as shown by E32 in FIGS. 6 and 8, the connection member 330 can be provided with a tank connector at the upper end. And such an upper-end tank connector E32 can be connected to the control connector E2 of the control module 200.

[0077] As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 8, etc., the fire extinguishing tank 300 can include an inner tank 310 and an outer tank 320. Here, the inner tank 310 has a space inside, and a fire extinguishing agent can be directly accommodated in such an inner space. In particular, the inner tank 310 can be configured in a sealed form to accommodate the fire extinguishing agent. For example, the inner tank 310 can be configured to have an airtight performance of IP class 55 or higher so that the fire extinguishing liquid does not leak in a steady state. And the outer tank 320 can be configured to be larger than the inner tank 310 and to accommodate the inner tank 310 in the inner space. Thus, it can be said that the fire extinguishing tank 300 is at least partially double - configured.

[0078] Furthermore, the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320 can be configured to be at least partially separated. In particular, referring to the implementation configuration of FIG. 8, the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320 can be configured to be at least partially separated in the left - right direction. For example, a space can be formed as shown by A5 between the side wall of the inner tank 310 and the side wall of the outer tank 320.

[0079] In this case, the fire extinguishing agent inside the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be stored more safely. In particular, even if an impact or the like is applied from the side of the fire extinguishing tank 300 or the like, the double structure of the outer tank 320 and the inner tank 310 and the space formed therebetween mitigate the impact transmission. As a result, by preventing the fire extinguishing tank 300, particularly the inner tank 310, from being damaged by impacts, vibrations, etc., abnormal leakage of the fire extinguishing agent can be prevented.

[0080] In such an implementation configuration of the fire extinguishing tank 300, the connecting member 330 can be located in the space between the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320. For example, in the implementation configuration of FIG. 8, a space can be formed between the right side wall of the inner tank 310 and the right side wall of the outer tank 320. And the connecting member 330 can be located in such a separated space. Also, a space of a similar form can be formed between the left side wall of the inner tank 310 and the left side wall of the outer tank 320, and the connecting member 330 can be located there.

[0081] According to such an implementation configuration, the connecting member 330 does not come into direct contact with the fire extinguishing agent inside the fire extinguishing tank 300. As a result, problems such as the connecting member 330 being corroded by the fire extinguishing agent or current leakage can be prevented.

[0082] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be located above the battery module 100. And the fire extinguishing agent discharged from the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be configured to freely fall toward the battery module 100 side.

[0083] That is, the fire extinguishing tank 300 does not require another power source to move the fire extinguishing agent toward the battery module 100 side, and rapid fire extinguishing agent injection is possible. For example, referring to the implementation configuration of FIG. 2, as indicated by arrow A3, the fire extinguishing agent is injected toward the battery module 100 side, and such an injection process can be naturally performed by a free fall method. Therefore, according to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, efficient thermal control of the battery cell whose temperature has risen due to thermal runaway or the like becomes possible.

[0084] The fire extinguishing agent may include a substance in a liquid state. That is, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may store a substance in a liquid state as a fire extinguishing agent in the internal space of the inner tank 310. For example, the fire extinguishing agent may be water, a mixture in which water and one or more additives are mixed, or a liquid containing the same.

[0085] The fire extinguishing agent in a liquid state can be easily introduced into the battery module 100 located at the lower part by a free fall method. In addition, the fire extinguishing agent in a liquid state can lower the temperature of the battery module 100 and facilitate fire suppression. Further, in such a configuration, the fire extinguishing liquid can flow quickly and smoothly into the inside of the battery module 100, particularly to the lower part of the module. Further, since it is a fire extinguishing agent in a liquid state, it is possible to suppress the inflow of oxygen into the inside of the battery module, particularly into the battery cell where a thermal event has occurred.

[0086] Furthermore, the fire extinguishing agent may include at least one of antifreeze, brine, and insulating oil. That is, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may store antifreeze, brine, and / or insulating oil as a fire extinguishing agent, or may further store other substances together with such liquid substances.

[0087] According to such an implementation configuration, it may be advantageous for outdoor installation of the battery pack. In particular, in the case of a battery pack used for a residential ESS, an industrial ESS, etc., it can be used outdoors. At this time, when antifreeze, brine, or insulating oil, etc. is used as the fire extinguishing agent as in the above implementation configuration, it will not freeze even at a low temperature and can maintain its liquid state. Thereby, in a situation where the fire extinguishing agent should be introduced into the battery module 100, it is possible to prevent the problem that it cannot be introduced due to freezing. Further, in this case, it is possible to prevent the problem that the volume changes due to the external temperature and the fire extinguishing tank 300, etc. bursts due to freezing. Furthermore, in the case of insulating oil, it may have insulation resistance performance even when introduced into the battery module 100. Therefore, in the case of such an implementation configuration of the present invention, it can be advantageously applied to a residential battery pack or a residential energy storage system (ESS).

[0088] The fire extinguishing tank 300 may include a rupture member 340. Here, the rupture member 340 can be ruptured under predetermined conditions. And the rupture member 340 can be configured such that the fire extinguishing agent can flow out when ruptured.

[0089] For this purpose, the rupture member 340 can be configured to communicate with the internal space of the fire extinguishing tank 300. In particular, when the fire extinguishing tank 300 is provided with an internal tank 310 and an external tank 320, the rupture member 340 can be configured to communicate with the internal space of the internal tank 310. For example, the internal tank 310 can be formed in a substantially sealed form and an inlet hole can be formed. And when the rupture member 340 is inserted into such an inlet hole, the inlet hole can be closed. And when the rupture member 340 ruptures, the inlet hole is opened and the fire extinguishing agent stored in the internal tank 310 can flow out to the outside.

[0090] The rupture member 340 can be located at the lower part of the fire extinguishing tank 300. In this case, when the rupture member 340 ruptures, the fire extinguishing agent can be more smoothly introduced toward the battery module 100 side. In particular, the fire extinguishing agent can be introduced into the battery module 100 by the free fall method.

[0091] At least one or more rupture members 340 can be provided in one fire extinguishing tank 300. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, four rupture members 340 can be provided in one fire extinguishing tank 300.

[0092] Also, the rupture member 340 can be configured to rupture according to conditions such as temperature and pressure. For example, the rupture member 340 can be configured to rupture under conditions of a certain temperature or higher and / or a certain pressure or higher.

[0093] In particular, the rupture member 340 can be configured to be rupturable by vent gas. That is, when a thermal event such as thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 100, vent gas can be generated and discharged from the battery module 100. At this time, the rupture member 340 can be composed of a material or form that ruptures due to the heat or pressure of the vent gas.

[0094] The rupture member 340 can be embodied as a glass valve. For example, an insertion hole is formed in the fire extinguishing tank 300, and the glass valve can be inserted into and fastened to such an insertion hole. Then, when the glass valve comes into contact with the vent gas, it ruptures, and the fire extinguishing agent inside the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be ejected to the outside, particularly to the battery module 100 side.

[0095] According to such an implementation configuration, while the fire extinguishing tank 300 is simply configured, the configuration for injecting the fire extinguishing agent to the battery module 100 side is performed more smoothly. Also, according to such an implementation configuration, a configuration in which the rupture member 340 ruptures due to the vent gas generated from the battery module 100 is more easily provided.

[0096] In addition, the rupture member 340 can be embodied in various materials or forms that are rupturable due to changes in conditions such as heat and pressure. For example, the rupture member 340 can be embodied in the form of a vinyl material or an injection product.

[0097] The battery module 100 can have an opening formed to communicate with the internal space. For example, as shown by O1 in FIG. 2, the battery module 100 can have an opening formed at the upper end. And such an opening O1 can communicate with the internal space of the module case where the battery cells are located.

[0098] Here, the rupture member 340 can be configured such that at least a part thereof is inserted into the opening O1 of the battery module 100. For example, as shown by A4 and A4' in FIG. 8, the rupture member 340 can be inserted into the internal space of the battery module 100 through the opening O1.

[0099] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, the fire extinguishing agent can flow into the internal space of the battery module 100. Thereby, it is possible to effectively respond to heat events occurring inside the battery module 100, such as thermal runaway, gas ejection, and fire. Furthermore, a battery cell that is a direct target of a heat event may be located in the internal space of the battery module 100. Accordingly, according to the above implementation configuration, the fire extinguishing agent is directly injected into the battery cell. Therefore, it is more advantageous for suppressing and preventing fires and the like.

[0100] Also, according to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, a rupture member 340 such as a glass valve can quickly react to vent gas. That is, when vent gas is generated in the internal space of the battery module 100, the vent gas can be discharged from the opening O1 to the outside of the battery module 100. In other words, the opening O1 can serve as a vent gas discharge port in the battery module 100. Furthermore, when the opening O1 is located on the upper side of the battery module 100, a large amount of vent gas can be discharged to the side of the opening O1 located at the upper part.

[0101] At this time, when the glass valve is located at the portion where the vent gas is discharged, the glass valve can be quickly ruptured when the vent gas is generated. Therefore, when a heat event occurs, the fire extinguishing agent can be more quickly injected. Also, in this case, since the fire extinguishing agent is directly injected into the discharged vent gas, it is possible to lower the temperature of the vent gas and suppress the discharge of external ignition sources such as flames and sparks contained in the vent gas.

[0102] On the one hand, the opening O1 formed in the battery module 100 does not necessarily have to be provided for the purpose of discharging vent gas or the like. For example, the opening O1 prepared at the upper end of the battery module 100 shown in FIG. 2 or the like may be provided for the purpose of transporting the battery module 100. That is, the opening O1 may be configured to provide a space into which an operator or a handling device can insert a finger or a gripping tool and grip it when transporting the battery module 100. Alternatively, the opening O1 may be provided as a configuration for inserting the control module 200 or the fire extinguishing tank 300.

[0103] A vent path through which vent gas can move may be formed in the fire extinguishing tank 300. That is, when vent gas is discharged from the opening O1 of the battery module 100, such vent gas may have a vent path formed inside and / or outside the fire extinguishing tank 300 so as to be discharged to a specific portion. Such a vent path may be formed in the fire extinguishing tank 300 alone or together with other components. This will be further described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 together with FIG. 8.

[0104] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a partial cross-sectional configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front. For example, it can be said that FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the A4 portion of FIG. 8. Further, FIG. 10 is a top view of a partial cross-sectional configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A6 - A6' of FIG. 1.

[0105] First, referring to FIG. 9, with the fire extinguishing tank 300 mounted on top of the battery module 100, the fire extinguishing tank 300 and the battery module 100 can be configured to be partially separated from each other. And such a separation space can communicate with the opening O1 of the battery module 100 and function as a vent path. For example, in FIG. 9, as shown by A7, a space can be formed between the upper end of the battery module 100 and the lower end of the fire extinguishing tank 300. And the vent gas discharged from the opening O1 can be discharged to the outside through the separation space A7 between the battery module 100 and the fire extinguishing tank 300, as shown by arrow A8. That is, in such an implementation configuration, the separation space A7 between the battery module 100 and the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be provided as a vent path. Also, the vent path formed between the battery module 100 and the fire extinguishing tank 300 is connected to the outside of the battery pack, and the vent gas inside the battery pack can be discharged to the outside.

[0106] Also, the vent path can be formed inside the fire extinguishing tank 300. In particular, when the fire extinguishing tank 300 includes an inner tank 310 and an outer tank 320, a space can be formed between the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320. For example, as shown by A5 in FIG. 8, the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320 are separated, and the separation space can function as a vent path.

[0107] And such a separation space A5 between the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320 can communicate with the opening O1 of the battery module 100. Also, the vent path formed between the inner tank 310 and the outer tank 320 is connected to the outside of the battery pack, and the vent gas inside the battery pack can be discharged to the outside.

[0108] Also, the vent paths can be formed both between the fire extinguishing tank 300 and the battery module 100 as shown by A8 in FIG. 9 and between the external tank 320 and the internal tank 310 as shown by A5 in FIG. 8. And such vent paths can communicate with each other and be connected to the opening O1 and the external space.

[0109] In such an implementation configuration, the vent gas discharged from the inside of the battery module 100 toward the opening O1 can rupture a rupture member 340 located at the opening O1, for example, a glass valve, so that the fire extinguishing agent can flow into the inside of the battery module 100. And such vent gas can be discharged to the outside of the battery module 100 through the space between the fire extinguishing tank 300 and the battery module 100 and the vent path formed between the external tank 320 and the internal tank 310 as shown by arrows A9 and A9' in FIG. 10, respectively. More specifically, referring to the embodiment of FIG. 10, the vent gas can move in the left - right direction (X - axis direction) in the internal space of the fire extinguishing tank 300 and then move rearward (+Y - axis direction) and be discharged to the outside of the battery pack. At this time, the discharge port of the vent path in the battery pack can be located at the rear of the battery pack.

[0110] According to such an implementation configuration, since the discharge configuration of the vent gas is provided by the fire extinguishing tank 300 mounted on the battery module 100, the vent gas inside the battery module 100 can be smoothly discharged to the outside, thereby preventing an explosion due to an increase in the internal pressure of the battery module 100.

[0111] Also, according to such an implementation configuration, the direction of the vent gas discharged from the battery module 100 can be effectively controlled by the fire extinguishing tank 300. In particular, in the above implementation configuration, the vent gas can be induced to flow toward the rupture member 340 side. Thereby, when the vent gas is generated, the rupture member 340 can be made to rupture rapidly. Further, in the above implementation configuration, the vent gas can move to the rear side of the battery pack as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, it is possible to prevent direct exposure of the vent gas to a user or other components located on the front side of the battery pack.

[0112] The battery module 100 may include two or more in the battery pack. At this time, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured such that the fire extinguishing agent can be separately introduced into each of the two or more battery modules 100. This will be specifically described with further reference to FIG. 11.

[0113] FIG. 11 is a side view schematically showing a partial cross-sectional configuration of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A10-A10' of FIG. 1.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 11 and the like, the battery pack may include two or more battery modules 100. And the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured to be assembled together with the two or more battery modules 100. At this time, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may include at least two rupture members 340 and may be arranged spaced apart in the stacking direction of the battery module 100. And the plurality of rupture members 340 may be respectively inserted into the openings O1 of different battery modules 100. For example, in the implementation configuration of FIG. 11, the first glass valve G1 may be inserted into the opening O1 of the first module M1, and the second glass valve G2 may be inserted into the opening O1 of the second module M2.

[0115] And in such a configuration, each of the glass valves G1, G2 can have the fire extinguishing agent introduced thereinto for different battery modules 100 (M1, M2). For example, when vent gas, flames, etc. are generated from the first module M1, the first glass valve G1 breaks, and as indicated by the arrow D1, the fire extinguishing agent in the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be introduced into the interior of the first module M1. In another example, when vent gas, flames, etc. are generated from the second module M2, the second glass valve G2 breaks, and as indicated by the arrow D2, the fire extinguishing agent in the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be introduced into the interior of the second module M2.

[0116] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, in a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules 100, it is possible to directly introduce a fire extinguishing agent into each battery module 100. In particular, according to the above implementation configuration, it is possible to ensure that the fire extinguishing agent is introduced only into the battery module 100 in which a thermal event has occurred. As a result, it is possible to enable the subsequent operation of the other battery modules 100 into which the fire extinguishing agent has not been introduced. For example, when a thermal event occurs in the first module M1, the first glass valve G1 ruptures and the fire extinguishing agent can be introduced only into the interior of the first module M1. At this time, the second glass valve G2 does not rupture and the fire extinguishing agent is not introduced into the interior of the second module M2, so that the second module M2 can continue to be used. Therefore, even if problems occur in some of the battery modules 100, it is possible to prevent the entire battery pack from being rendered useless.

[0117] On the other hand, in FIG. 11, it is shown that one rupture member 340 is inserted into one battery module 100, but two or more rupture members 340 can be inserted into one battery module 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 etc., the fire extinguishing tank 300 can be provided with two or more rupture members 340 in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction respectively. In this case, two rupture members 340 arranged in the left-right direction can be inserted into one battery module 100 together.

[0118] In an implementation configuration in which a plurality of battery modules 100 are included in a battery pack, a vent path may be configured to be separated between each of the battery modules 100. For example, as shown by W1 in FIG. 11, a protrusion may be formed between the first module M1 and the second module M2. Such a protrusion may be provided in a form that bulges upward from the upper end of the battery module 100 and may contact the lower end of the fire extinguishing tank 300.

[0119] In this case, the protrusion may prevent vent gas or the like from flowing to the side of other battery modules 100. For example, when vent gas is ejected from the opening O1 in the first module M1, the vent gas may flow in the left - right direction (X - axis direction) along the vent path formed between the upper part of the first module M1 and the lower part of the fire extinguishing tank 300, as shown in FIG. 10. However, the vent gas discharged from the first module M1 does not move to the side of the second module M2 due to the protrusion W1 formed between the first module M1 and the second module M2. That is, the protrusion W1 formed between the first module M1 and the second module M2 may function as a partition wall that blocks the movement of vent gas between them. In particular, such a central protrusion W1 may be composed of an elastic material such as rubber, silicone, or urethane in order to ensure the sealing performance.

[0120] Such a protrusion W1 may be formed to extend long in a direction (X - axis direction) perpendicular to the stacking direction of the battery modules 100 among the horizontal directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, as a partition wall, the protrusion may be located between the first module M1 and the second module M2 like the portion indicated by W2 and may be formed to extend long in the left - right direction (X - axis direction).

[0121] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, the control of the venting direction of the vent gas can be more reliably performed. In this case, it is possible to block the vent gas discharged from some of the battery modules 100 from flowing into other battery modules 100, and prevent problems such as the propagation of thermal runaway between the modules. Further, according to the above implementation configuration, it is possible to prevent a problem in which the rupture member 340 ruptures due to vent gas discharged from other battery modules 100 and the fire extinguishing agent is introduced into the normal battery module 100.

[0122] In addition, a partition wall may be formed on the outer side of the plurality of battery modules 100. For example, as shown by W3 in FIG. 11, a protruding portion (front protruding portion) may be provided at the upper end portion of the front side of the first module M1 located on the front side as a partition wall configuration that contacts the fire extinguishing tank 200 to seal the vent path. Further, as shown by W3' in FIG. 11, a protruding portion (rear protruding portion) may be provided at the edge of the upper end of the rear side of the second module M2 located on the rear side as a partition wall configuration that contacts the fire extinguishing tank 200 to seal the vent path. In addition, such a front protruding portion W3 and rear protruding portion W3' may be made of an elastic material such as rubber, silicone, or urethane in order to ensure the sealing performance.

[0123] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, it is possible to ensure the sealing force of the vent path formed between the battery module 100 and the fire extinguishing tank 300, and allow the vent gas to be discharged only in the intended direction. For example, according to such a partition wall configuration, the vent gas can move only in the directions indicated by the arrows A9 and A9' in FIG. 10, and prevent movement in other directions, for example, to the front side of the battery pack.

[0124] The fire extinguishing tank 300 may further include a cover portion configured to protrude toward the battery module 100 at an edge coupled to the battery module 100. For example, referring to FIGS. 7 and 11, as shown by A11, a cover portion extending downward beyond the upper end of the battery module 100 may be formed at least at the lower end of at least a part of the edge of the fire extinguishing tank 300. And such a cover portion may be configured to surround the outside of the battery module 100 when the fire extinguishing tank 300 is mounted on the battery module 100.

[0125] According to such an implementation configuration of the present invention, the coupling property between the fire extinguishing tank 300 and the battery module 100 can be further improved. Also, according to such an implementation configuration, when the fire extinguishing agent is ejected from the fire extinguishing tank 300, while facilitating the introduction of the fire extinguishing agent into the battery module 100, it is possible to suppress the leakage of the fire extinguishing agent to the outside of the battery pack.

[0126] Also, according to the implementation configuration, it is possible to prevent the outflow of vent gas in an unintended direction. For example, the cover portion may be formed at three edge portions, i.e., the front, left, and right, at the lower edge of the fire extinguishing tank 300. In this case, the vent gas flowing into the space between the fire extinguishing tank 300 and the battery module 100 can be guided to flow out to the rear side of the battery pack, preventing leakage to the front side, left side, or right side.

[0127] Furthermore, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may further include a sealing member at an edge coupled to the battery module 100 and / or the control module 200. For example, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may include an upper sealing member and a lower sealing member configured in a ring shape. The upper sealing member may be provided at the upper edge of the fire extinguishing tank 300, and the lower sealing member may be provided at the lower edge of the fire extinguishing tank 300. Such a sealing member may be made of an elastic material such as rubber, silicone, or urethane.

[0128] According to such an implementation configuration, at the upper end and / or lower end of the fire extinguishing tank 300, it is possible to ensure the sealing performance with respect to the coupling portions with other components (battery module, control module). As a result, it is possible to prevent vent gas from leaking from the portion or foreign matters such as water, moisture, and dust from penetrating.

[0129] The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention can be configured such that the fire extinguishing tank 300, the battery module 100, the control module 200, etc. can be coupled and fixed to a wall of a building such as a house or a building. For example, the fire extinguishing tank 300 may be configured such that fixing holes are formed in the rear surface portion, and the fire extinguishing tank 300 is fixed to the wall by such fixing holes. Alternatively, the battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a fixing unit configured to be coupled to a wall or the like. Such a fixing unit can be fastened to components such as the fire extinguishing tank 300 and the battery module 100 to fix the battery pack to the wall.

[0130] The energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes one or more battery packs according to an embodiment of the present invention described above. Further, the energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include normal components included in the energy storage system in addition to such a battery pack. In particular, the energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a residential (building) energy storage system used for storing energy in a house, a building, or the like.

[0131] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to limited examples and drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical idea and the claims of the present invention by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0132] 100 Battery module 200 Control module 300 Fire Extinguishing Tank 310 Inner Tank 320 Outer Tank 330 Connecting Member 340 Rupture Member C1 Module Fastening Part C2 Control Fastening Part C31, C32 Tank Fastening Parts E1 Module Connector E2 Control Connector E31, E32 Tank Connectors M1 First Module M2 Second Module

Claims

1. A battery module comprising one or more battery cells, A control module connected to the battery module and managing the battery module, A fire extinguishing tank storing a fire extinguishing agent and coupled to at least one of the battery module and the control module, An opening is formed in the battery module so as to communicate with the internal space, The fire extinguishing tank is characterized in that a vent path is formed so that the vent gas moves when the vent gas is discharged from the opening, a battery pack.

2. The fire extinguishing tank is provided between the battery module and the control module, the battery pack according to claim 1.

3. The control module is detachably configured on at least one side of the battery module, the battery pack according to claim 2.

4. The fire extinguishing tank is provided with tank fastening parts configured to be connectable to the control module and the battery module at the upper end and the lower end, respectively, the battery pack according to claim 3.

5. The fire extinguishing tank includes a connecting member for electrically connecting the battery module and the control module, the battery pack according to claim 2.

6. The fire extinguishing tank is located above the battery module and is configured such that the fire extinguishing agent freely falls toward the battery module side, the battery pack according to claim 1.

7. The fire extinguishing agent includes at least one of antifreeze, salt water, and insulating oil, the battery pack according to claim 1.

8. The fire extinguishing tank is configured to be rupturable under predetermined conditions and includes a rupturing member configured such that the fire extinguishing agent flows out when ruptured, the battery pack according to claim 1.

9. The rupturing member is implemented with a glass valve, the battery pack according to claim 8.

10. The rupturing member is configured such that at least a part of the rupturing member is inserted into the opening of the battery module, the battery pack according to claim 8.

11. Including two or more of the battery modules, The fire extinguishing tank is configured such that the fire extinguishing agent can be separately charged into each of two or more battery modules, and the battery pack according to claim 1 is characterized by this.

12. An energy storage system, characterized by including the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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