Battery module, battery pack including the battery module, and energy storage device and vehicle including the battery pack

Abstract

To provide a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and an energy storage device and a vehicle including the battery pack.SOLUTION: A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of battery cells; at least one cooling channel which is provided on at least one side of the plurality of battery cells and through which coolant flows for cooling the plurality of battery cells; and at least one cooling fin unit which is arranged in contact with the at least one cooling channel and comprises at least one support rib for supporting the at least one cooling channel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0189011 filed on December 27, 2021, and all of the contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated into this application.

Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries with high applicability for each product group and having electrical characteristics such as high energy density are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by an electric drive source. Such secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and highly energy-efficient because they not only have the first advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels but also do not generate any by-products from energy use.

[0004] Currently widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, nickel zinc batteries, etc. The operating voltage of these unit secondary battery cells, i.e., unit battery cells, is about 2.5 to 4.5V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in series to form a battery pack. Also, depending on the charge and discharge capacity required for the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in parallel to form a battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack can be set variously according to the required output voltage and charge and discharge capacity.

[0005] On one hand, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series / parallel, generally, a battery module including at least one battery cell is first configured, and other components are added using at least one battery module to configure a battery pack or a battery rack.

[0006] Conventional battery modules generally include a plurality of battery cells stacked on top of each other and a module housing that houses the plurality of battery cells. In such a conventional battery module, when overheating occurs in a specific battery cell among the plurality of battery cells due to an abnormal situation, the heat generated by the overheated battery cell is directly transmitted to the adjacent battery cells, leading to thermal runaway and posing a greater risk such as explosion of the battery module.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to explore measures for providing a battery module that prevents thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of a battery cell, a battery pack including the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and an automobile.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that prevents thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of a battery cell, a battery pack including the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and an automobile.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery module including: a plurality of battery cells; at least one cooling channel provided on at least one side of the plurality of battery cells and through which cooling water for cooling the plurality of battery cells flows; and at least one cooling fin unit disposed in contact with the at least one cooling channel and including at least one support rib for supporting the at least one cooling channel.

[0010] Also preferably, a plurality of the cooling channels are provided, and the plurality of cooling channels can be provided on the upper side and the lower side of the plurality of battery cells.

[0011] Also preferably, the at least one cooling fin unit can be disposed in contact with the cooling channels provided on the upper side and the lower side of the plurality of battery cells.

[0012] Also preferably, a plurality of the cooling fin units are provided, and the plurality of cooling fin units can be disposed between the plurality of battery cells.

[0013] Also preferably, the at least one cooling fin unit can communicate with the plurality of cooling channels.

[0014] Also preferably, the at least one cooling fin unit can be provided with a fin flow path connected to the plurality of cooling channels and through which the cooling water flows in.

[0015] Also preferably, the at least one support rib extends from an end of the at least one cooling fin unit and can include a channel support portion for supporting the at least one cooling channel and a cell support portion extending from the channel support portion and supporting the plurality of battery cells.

[0016] Also, preferably, the cell support portion can be bent from the channel support portion at a predetermined angle.

[0017] Also, preferably, the at least one support rib can be integrally formed with the at least one cooling fin unit.

[0018] Also, preferably, a plurality of the support ribs are provided, and the plurality of support ribs can be disposed opposite to each other at at least one end of the cooling fin unit.

[0019] Furthermore, the present invention provides a battery pack including at least one battery module according to the above-described embodiment and a pack case for housing the at least one battery module.

[0020] Furthermore, the present invention provides an energy storage device including at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiment.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention provides an automobile including at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiment.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the various embodiments as described above, there are provided a battery module for preventing thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of a battery cell, a battery pack including the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and an automobile.

[0023] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and are for the purpose of further understanding the technical idea of the present invention together with the detailed description of the present invention to be described later. Therefore, the present invention is not to be construed as being limited only to the matters described in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] The present invention will become more apparent by explaining preferred embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described here are illustratively shown to assist in understanding the present invention, and it must be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various modifications different from the embodiments described here. Note that, to assist in understanding the present invention, some components in the accompanying drawings may be shown exaggerated and not at actual scale.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the main part of the battery module of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the cooling fin unit of the battery module of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the cooling fin unit of FIG. 3.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the battery module 10 may include a plurality of battery cells 100, a cooling channel 200, and at least one cooling fin unit 300.

[0028] The plurality of battery cells 100 are secondary batteries, and may be pouch-type secondary batteries, prismatic secondary batteries, or cylindrical secondary batteries. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the description will be limited to the case where the plurality of battery cells 100 are provided as pouch-type secondary batteries.

[0029] Each of the plurality of battery cells 100 may include a battery case that houses the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead 150 that protrudes from the battery case and is connected to the electrode assembly.

[0030] The cooling channel 200 may be provided on at least one of the upper and lower sides of the plurality of battery cells 100. Cooling water C (see FIG. 5) for cooling the plurality of battery cells 100 flows through the cooling channel 200.

[0031] A plurality of such cooling channels 200 may be provided. The plurality of cooling channels 200 may be provided on both the upper and lower sides of the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0032] The at least one cooling fin unit 300 may be disposed in contact with the at least one cooling channel 200. Specifically, the at least one cooling fin unit 300 may be disposed in contact with the cooling channels 200 provided on the upper and lower sides of the plurality of battery cells 100. Further, the at least one cooling fin unit 300 may communicate with the plurality of cooling channels 200.

[0033] A plurality of the at least one cooling fin unit 300 may be provided. The plurality of cooling fin units 300 may be disposed between the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0034] Hereinafter, the plurality of cooling fin units 300 will be described in more detail.

[0035] Each of the plurality of cooling fin units 300 may include a fin body 310, a fin flow path 330, and a support rib 350.

[0036] The fin body 310 may be disposed long in the vertical direction of the plurality of battery cells 100 between the plurality of battery cells 100. Such a fin body 310 may be made of a metal material having high thermal conductivity.

[0037] The fin flow path 330 may be formed long along the length direction of the fin body 310 inside the fin body 310. Such a fin flow path 330 may communicate with the plurality of cooling channels 200. Thereby, the cooling water may flow into the fin flow path 330. The inflow of the cooling water through the fin flow path 330 further improves the cooling efficiency of the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0038] The support rib 350 extends from the end of the at least one cooling fin unit 300, specifically from the end of the fin body 310, and may support at least one of the at least one cooling channel and the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0039] Such a support rib 350 may be a component that may be attached as a separate member to the at least one cooling fin unit 300 or may be integrally formed with the at least one cooling fin unit 300. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the description will be limited to the case where the support rib 350 is a component integrally formed with the at least one cooling fin unit 300. Specifically, the support rib 350 may be integrally formed with the fin body 310 of the at least one cooling fin unit 300.

[0040] A plurality of the support ribs 350 may be provided.

[0041] The plurality of support ribs 350 may be disposed opposite to each other at one end of the cooling fin unit 300. Specifically, the plurality of support ribs 350 may be disposed opposite to each other at at least one end of the cooling fin unit 300, more specifically, at at least one end of the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the fin body 310.

[0042] Such a plurality of support ribs 350 may include a channel support portion 352 and a cell support portion 354.

[0043] The channel support portion 352 extends from an end of the at least one cooling fin unit 300, specifically from an end of the fin body 310, more specifically from the upper end portion of the fin body 310, and may support the at least one cooling channel 200.

[0044] Such a channel support portion 352 extends from an end of the at least one cooling fin unit 300, specifically from the upper end portion of the fin body 310, and may support the at least one cooling channel 200.

[0045] The cell support portion 354 extends from the channel support portion 352 and may support the plurality of battery cells 100. Such a cell support portion 354 may be bent at a predetermined angle from the channel support portion 352. Specifically, the cell support portion 354 may be bent at a predetermined angle in a direction from the channel support portion 352 toward the battery cell 100.

[0046] The battery module 10 may include a channel connection portion 400.

[0047] The channel connection part 400 can be connected to the cooling channel 200 between the cooling channel 200 and the cooling fin unit 300. Such a channel connection part 400 may at least partially melt or separate from the cooling channel 200, or may detach from the cooling channel 200 due to external impact, temperature rise, etc. in an abnormal situation.

[0048] The channel connection part 400 may be provided with at least one connection hole 450 capable of supplying the cooling water to the inside of the fin flow path 330 of the cooling fin unit 300. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the description will be limited to the case where there are a plurality of connection holes 450.

[0049] Hereinafter, the cooling mechanism of the battery module 10 according to such an embodiment of the present invention will be described more specifically.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the cooling mechanism of the battery module of FIG. 1.

[0051] Referring to FIG. 5, the cooling channel 200 can cool the battery cell 100 by circulating the cooling water C for cooling the battery cell 100. Here, the cooling water C in the cooling channel 200 flows into the fin flow path 330 of the cooling fin unit 300 through the connection hole 450 of the channel connection part 400. In this way, since the cooling water C also flows into the cooling fin unit 300, the cooling efficiency of the battery cell 100 is further improved.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cooling channel 200 through which the cooling water C flows is more stably supported by the support ribs 350 of the cooling fin unit 300.

[0053] Hereinafter, the thermal runaway prevention mechanism of the battery module 10 according to such an embodiment of the present invention will be described more specifically.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a thermal runaway prevention mechanism in the event of an abnormal situation of the battery module of FIG. 1.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 6, among the battery cells 100 of the battery module 10, there is a possibility that a dangerous situation leading to a fire or the like may occur due to overheating or the like caused by an abnormal situation in at least one of them.

[0056] When overheating or the like occurs in the battery cell 100, the temperature of the battery cell 100 may rise, and the battery cell 100 may expand. Due to an external impact, a temperature rise, or the like in such an abnormal situation, the channel connection portion 400 may be at least partially melted or separated from the cooling channel 200, or may be detached from the cooling channel 200.

[0057] As a result, when the cooling channel 200 is opened, the cooling water C flows out of the cooling channel 200 and functions as a fire extinguishing agent for suppressing thermal runaway, fire, or the like of the battery cell 100 in which the abnormal situation has occurred.

[0058] On the other hand, when such detachment or positional deformation of the channel connection portion 400 and the cooling channel 200 occurs, the support rib 350 of the cooling fin unit 300 can support the battery cell 100 and maintain the arrangement form of the battery cell 100 to the maximum extent.

[0059] If the support form of the battery cell 100 collapses when detachment or positional deformation of the channel connection portion 400 and the cooling channel 200 occurs, it will lead to a structural collapse of the entire battery module 10, and the possibility of falling into the thermal runaway or a dangerous situation will increase significantly. In this embodiment, the support rib 350 can support the battery cell 100 even in such an abnormal situation, thereby significantly preventing the risk of structural collapse of the entire battery module 10.

[0060] Furthermore, the support rib 350 can also function as a barrier between adjacent battery cells 100 by itself, thereby effectively preventing flames and sparks that may be caused by a battery cell 100 in an abnormal situation from spreading to the adjacent battery cell 100 side.

[0061] As described above, the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment can significantly reduce the dangerous situation that may lead to thermal runaway of the entire battery module 10 during the abnormal situation by the cooling channel 200, the cooling fin unit 300, and the channel connection portion 400.

[0062] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 7, the battery pack 1 may include at least one or a plurality of the battery modules 10 of the foregoing embodiments, and a pack case 50 for housing the at least one battery module 10.

[0064] Such a battery pack 1 may be provided as an energy storage device or an energy source of an automobile with at least one or a plurality of them. Needless to say, the battery pack 1 may also be provided in other devices, instruments, and equipment that use secondary batteries, in addition to the energy storage device and the automobile.

[0065] As described above, devices, instruments, and equipment such as the energy storage device and the automobile including the battery pack 1 according to the present embodiment can realize devices, instruments, and equipment such as the energy storage device and the automobile that have all the advantages of the foregoing battery module 10.

[0066] According to the various embodiments as described above, there are provided a battery module 10 for preventing thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of the battery cell 100, a battery pack 1 including the battery module 10, an energy storage device including the battery pack 1, and a vehicle.

[0067] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various modifications can be made by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention pertains without departing from the gist of the invention claimed in the claims. Such modifications should not be individually understood from the technical idea and prospect of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0068] 1 Battery pack 10 Battery module 50 Pack case 100 Battery cell 150 Electrode lead 200 Cooling channel 300 Cooling fin unit 310 Fin body 330 Fin flow path 350 Support rib 352 Channel support part 354 Cell support part 400 Channel connection part 450 Connection hole C Cooling water

Claims

1. A plurality of battery cells, A plurality of cooling channels provided on the upper and lower sides of the plurality of battery cells, through which cooling water for cooling the plurality of battery cells flows, At least one or a plurality of cooling fin units arranged in contact with the plurality of cooling channels and having support ribs for supporting the plurality of cooling channels, Including, The plurality of cooling channels are, Provided on the upper and lower sides of the plurality of battery cells, The plurality of cooling fin units are, Arranged in contact with the cooling channels provided on the upper and lower sides of the plurality of battery cells, A battery module.

2. The cooling fin unit is, Provided in a plurality, The plurality of cooling fin units are, Arranged between the plurality of battery cells. The battery module according to claim 1.

3. At least one of the cooling fin units is, In communication with the plurality of cooling channels. The battery module according to claim 1.

4. In at least one of the cooling fin units, There is provided a fin flow path connected to the plurality of cooling channels and through which the cooling water flows in. The battery module according to claim 3.

5. At least one of the support ribs is, Extending from an end of at least one of the cooling fin units and having a channel support portion for supporting at least one of the cooling channels, Extending from the channel support portion and having a cell support portion for supporting the plurality of battery cells. The battery module according to claim 1.

6. The cell support portion is, Bent at a predetermined angle from the channel support portion. The battery module according to claim 5.

7. At least one of the support ribs is, Integrally formed with at least one of the cooling fin units. The battery module according to claim 1.

8. The support ribs are, Provided in a plurality, The plurality of support ribs are, Arranged opposite to each other at at least one end of the cooling fin unit. The battery module according to claim 1.

9. At least one battery module according to claim 1, A pack case for accommodating at least one of the battery modules, Including, a battery pack.

10. An energy storage device comprising the battery pack according to at least one of claims 9. **Claim 11** A motor vehicle comprising the battery pack according to at least one of claims 9.

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