Battery module, battery pack including battery module, and automobile

Abstract

The battery module of the present invention includes battery cells and a case assembly for cooling the battery cells using cooling water, the case assembly including a top cooling member, a bottom cooling member, and a connector member, thereby allowing the entire battery cells to be uniformly cooled and minimizing temperature deviation throughout the battery cells.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module capable of minimizing temperature deviation across battery cells and improving cooling efficiency when cooling the battery cells, and to a battery pack and a vehicle including the same.

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0036333 filed on March 23, 2022 and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0037478 filed on March 22, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated by reference as part of this specification. [Background technology]

[0003] In general, secondary batteries are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that are driven by electrical sources, etc. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source that can significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels and is environmentally friendly in that they do not produce any by-products, and therefore can improve energy efficiency.

[0004] Meanwhile, a plurality of secondary batteries are connected to form a battery module, which requires a cooling system to prevent overheating. That is, as the capacity of the battery module increases, the amount of heat generated increases, and therefore a water-cooled cooling system is required instead of an air-cooled system.

[0005] However, the conventional water-cooling system has a problem in that it is difficult to uniformly cool the entire battery module, that is, the conventional water-cooling system has a problem in that temperature deviation occurs throughout the battery module, resulting in poor cooling efficiency. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of minimizing temperature deviation across battery cells and improving cooling efficiency when cooling the battery cells, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The battery module of the present invention includes a case assembly that houses and cools battery cells, the case assembly including a top cooling member including a top plate that covers an upper surface of the battery cells, a first heat sink through which cooling water passes to cool the upper surface of the battery cells, a first supply port that supplies cooling water to the first heat sink, and a first exhaust port that discharges the cooling water that has passed through the first heat sink, and a bottom plate that covers a lower surface of the battery cells, a second heat sink through which cooling water passes to cool the lower surface of the battery cells, a second supply port that supplies cooling water to the second heat sink, and a second exhaust port that discharges the cooling water that has passed through the second heat sink. the first supply port and the second supply port, and a connector member consisting of a front plate covering one side of the battery cell in the overall length direction, a supply section that supplies cooling water to the first supply port and the second supply port, and a recovery section that recovers the cooling water discharged from the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port, wherein the front plate includes a pair of side covers that cover both sides of the battery cell in the overall length direction, and a central cover that is provided between the pair of side covers and has the supply section and the recovery section, and the central cover is provided so as to protrude further outward than the side covers.

[0008] The supply section and the recovery section may be provided inside the front plate.

[0009] The supply unit may include a first connection passage that is configured to penetrate vertically through the central cover, with the first supply port and the second supply port respectively coupled to an upper end and a lower end thereof, and supplies cooling water to the first supply port and the second supply port, and a supply passage that penetrates from the outside of the central cover to the first connection passage and supplies cooling water to the first connection passage.

[0010] The supply passage may extend from a side portion of the central cover protruding outward from the side cover to the first connection passage.

[0011] The collection part may include a second connection passage that is provided to penetrate vertically through the central cover, and has an upper end and a lower end to which the first discharge port and the second discharge port are respectively connected, through which the cooling water discharged from the first discharge port and the second discharge port passes, and a collection passage that penetrates from a side of the central cover to the second connection passage and collects the cooling water passing through the second connection passage.

[0012] The recovery passage may extend from a side portion of the central cover protruding outward from the side cover to the second connection passage.

[0013] At both ends of the first connection passage, connection holes are formed into which the first supply port and the second supply port are respectively fitted and connected, and the first supply port and the second supply port may be formed with connection pieces that are connected to the first connection passage.

[0014] The second connection passage may have connection holes at both ends into which the first and second exhaust ports are fitted and coupled, and the first and second exhaust ports may have connection pieces formed thereon to couple to the second connection passage.

[0015] A sealing ring may be provided between the coupling hole of the first connection passage and the first supply port, or between the coupling hole of the first connection passage and the second supply port.

[0016] A sealing ring may be provided between the coupling hole of the second connection passage and the first exhaust port, or between the coupling hole of the second connection passage and the second exhaust port.

[0017] The battery pack may include a pair of side plates respectively covering both sides of the battery cell in a width direction.

[0018] The pair of side plates and the bottom plate may be integrally formed.

[0019] The battery cell may include a rear plate that covers the other side of the battery cell in the overall length direction.

[0020] Meanwhile, a battery pack according to the present invention includes a battery module and a pack case in which at least one battery module is housed, and the pack case may include a supply line that supplies cooling water to a supply passage of the battery module, and a recovery line through which cooling water recovered from a recovery passage of the battery module passes.

[0021] Meanwhile, the automobile of the present invention may include a battery pack, and a cooling water supply device that supplies cooling water to a supply line of the battery pack, or collects cooling water passing through a collection line. Effect of the Invention

[0022] The battery module of the present invention includes a case assembly that cools the battery cells using cooling water, and the case assembly includes a top cooling member, a bottom cooling member, and a connector member. With these features, the upper and lower parts of the battery cells can be effectively cooled, and in particular, the entire battery cells can be uniformly cooled. As a result, the temperature deviation of the entire battery cells can be minimized and cooling efficiency can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1]1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view illustrating a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a first heat sink and a second heat sink according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connector member according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. [Figure 8] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a method of assembling a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a method of assembling a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a method of assembling a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1A to 1C are diagrams illustrating a method of assembling a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a front view generally illustrating a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs can easily carry out the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In addition, in the drawings, in order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not related to the description are omitted, and similar parts are designated by similar reference numerals throughout the specification.

[0025] [Battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a battery module 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes battery cells 100 and a case assembly 200 that cools the battery cells 100 using cooling water.

[0026] Battery Cell The battery cell 100 includes an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a case that contains the electrode assembly and the electrolyte. The electrode assembly has a structure in which a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of separators are alternately arranged. The plurality of electrodes may be positive and negative electrodes.

[0027] Case Assembly The case assembly 200 includes a top cooling member 210 that cools an upper portion of the battery cell 100 using cooling water, a bottom cooling member 220 that cools a lower portion of the battery cell 100 using cooling water, and a connector member 230 that supplies or collects cooling water to the top cooling member 210 and the bottom cooling member 220. Here, the top cooling member 210 and the bottom cooling member 220 have a symmetrical structure based on the battery cell 100, which can improve manufacturing efficiency.

[0028] The top cooling member 210 includes a top plate 211 , a first heat sink 212 , a first supply port 213 , and a first exhaust port 214 .

[0029] The top plate 211 is made of a metal material and has an area covering the entire top surface of the battery cell 100. The top plate 211 is also provided with an upper extension 211a extending to the outside of the battery cell 100, and a first supply port 213 and a first exhaust port 214 are coupled to the upper extension 211a. In other words, the upper extension 211a separates the first supply port 213 and the first exhaust port 214 from the battery cell 100 to prevent them from contacting each other, thereby preventing damage to the battery cell 100.

[0030] The first heat sink 212 is disposed on the upper surface of the top plate 211, and cools the upper surfaces of the battery cells 100 as coolant passes through it. That is, referring to Fig. 5, the first heat sink 212 has a coolant passage through which coolant passes over the entire surface, thereby cooling the entire upper surface of the battery cells 100. Meanwhile, an inlet of the coolant passage is connected to a first supply port 213, and an outlet is connected to a first exhaust port 214.

[0031] The first supply port 213 is for supplying cooling water to the first heat sink 212, and is coupled to one side of the bottom surface of the upper extension part 211a and connected to an inlet of a cooling water passage provided in the first heat sink 212 to supply cooling water to the cooling water passage of the first heat sink 212.

[0032] The first exhaust port 214 is for discharging the cooling water that has passed through the first heat sink 212, and is coupled to the other side of the bottom surface of the upper extension portion 211a and connected to the outlet of the cooling water passage provided in the first heat sink 212 to discharge the cooling water that has passed through the first heat sink 212.

[0033] When the top cooling member 210 having such a configuration is disposed on the upper surface of the battery cell 100, cooling water is supplied to the first heat sink 212 via the first supply port 213, and the cooling water supplied to the first heat sink 212 cools the entire upper surface of the battery cell 100 while passing through the cooling water passage. Here, since the cooling water passage passes through the entire upper surface of the battery cell 100, the entire upper surface of the battery cell 100 can be uniformly cooled, and as a result, the temperature deviation of the entire upper surface of the battery cell 100 can be minimized. Meanwhile, the cooling water that has passed through the first heat sink 212 is discharged to the first discharge port 214.

[0034] Meanwhile, the first supply port 213 and the first exhaust port 214 can be detachably coupled to the upper extension part 211a, so that the first supply port 213 and the first exhaust port 214 can be easily replaced when they are damaged.

[0035] The bottom cooling member 220 includes a bottom plate 221 , a second heat sink 222 , a second supply port 223 , and a second exhaust port 224 .

[0036] The bottom plate 221 is made of a metal material and has an area covering the entire bottom surface of the battery cell 100. The bottom plate 221 is also provided with a lower extension 221a extending to the outside of the battery cell 100, and a second supply port 223 and a second exhaust port 224 are coupled to the lower extension 221a. That is, the lower extension 221a separates the second supply port 223 and the second exhaust port 224 from the battery cell 100 to prevent them from contacting each other, thereby preventing damage to the battery cell 100.

[0037] The second heat sink 222 is disposed on the bottom surface of the top plate 211, and cools the bottom surfaces of the battery cells 100 as coolant passes through it. The second heat sink 222 has the same coolant passage as the first heat sink 212. That is, referring to Fig. 5, the second heat sink 222 has a coolant passage through which coolant passes over the entire surface thereof, thereby cooling the entire bottom surface of the battery cells 100. Meanwhile, the inlet of the coolant passage is connected to the second supply port 223, and the outlet is connected to the second exhaust port 224.

[0038] The second supply port 223 is for supplying cooling water to the second heat sink 222, and is coupled to the upper surface of the lower extension portion 221a and connected to the inlet of a cooling water passage provided in the second heat sink 222 to supply cooling water to the cooling water passage of the second heat sink 222.

[0039] The second exhaust port 224 is for discharging the cooling water that has passed through the second heat sink 222, and is coupled to the upper surface of the lower extension portion 221a and connected to the outlet of the cooling water passage provided in the second heat sink 222 to discharge the cooling water that has passed through the second heat sink 222.

[0040] When the bottom cooling member 220 having such a configuration is placed on the bottom surface of the battery cell 100, cooling water is supplied to the second heat sink 222 via the second supply port 223, and the cooling water supplied to the second heat sink 222 cools the entire bottom surface of the battery cell 100 while passing through the cooling water passage. Here, since the cooling water passage passes through the entire bottom surface of the battery cell 100, it is possible to uniformly cool the entire bottom surface of the battery cell 100. Meanwhile, the cooling water that has passed through the second heat sink 222 is discharged to the second discharge port 224.

[0041] In particular, the present invention has a structure in which the top cooling member 210 and the bottom cooling member 220 are symmetrical, thereby making it possible to uniformly cool the top and bottom surfaces of the battery cell 100, and in particular, to minimize the temperature difference between the top and bottom surfaces of the battery cell 100, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0042] The connector member 230 includes a front plate 231, a supply portion 232, and a recovery portion 233, as shown in FIGS.

[0043] The front plate 231 is made of a metal material and covers one side of the battery cell 100 in the overall length direction (the front surface of the battery cell when referring to FIG. 2). That is, the front plate 231 includes a pair of side covers 231a that respectively cover both sides of one side of the battery cell 100 in the overall length direction, and a central cover 231b that is provided between the pair of side covers 231a and has the supply unit 232 and the recovery unit 233 provided therein.

[0044] On the other hand, by providing the supply section 232 and the recovery section 233 inside the front plate 231, it is possible to prevent the volume of the battery module 10 from increasing and to protect the supply section 232 and the recovery section 233 from external impacts.

[0045] Meanwhile, the pair of side covers 231a and central cover 231b are provided integrally, and as shown in FIG. 2, the central cover 231b may be provided to protrude further outward than the side cover 231a (toward the front of the battery cell as shown in FIG. 2). As a result, an extra space (i.e., an empty space) is provided between the central cover 231b and the battery cell 100, and the extra space separates the supply port and the battery cell 100 and the discharge port and the battery cell 100 to prevent contact from occurring. In particular, the extra space also serves to prevent the temperature of the battery cell from changing due to the coolant passing through the supply part and the recovery part.

[0046] The supply unit 232 is for supplying cooling water to the first supply port and the second supply port, that is, the supply unit 232 includes a first connection passage 232a and a supply passage 232b.

[0047] 1, the first connection passage 232a is provided to penetrate vertically through the central cover 231b, and the first supply port 213 and the second supply port 223 are respectively coupled to an upper end and a lower end of the first connection passage 232a to supply cooling water to the first supply port 213 and the second supply port 223. The supply passage 232b penetrates from the outside of the central cover 231b to the first connection passage 232a, and supplies cooling water to the first connection passage 232a.

[0048] Meanwhile, the entrance of the supply passage 232b may be provided to penetrate from a side portion of the central cover 231b protruding outward from the side cover 231a (the left side portion of the central cover 231b in FIG. 6) to the first connection passage 232a. That is, since the central cover protrudes further outward than the side covers, the supply passage may penetrate to be connected to the first connection passage via the side surface of the central cover. As a result, it is possible to improve the utilization of the space between the front surface of the side cover 231a and the left side surface of the central cover 231b in FIG. 2, and as a result, it is possible to prevent an increase in the volume of the battery module 10 in the overall length direction.

[0049] The recovery portion 233 is for recovering the cooling water discharged from the first discharge port and the second discharge port, that is, the recovery portion 233 includes a second connection passage 233a and a recovery passage 233b.

[0050] 1, the second connection passage 233a is provided to penetrate the central cover 231b from top to bottom, and the first discharge port 214 and the second discharge port 224 are respectively connected to the upper and lower ends of the second connection passage 233a, through which the cooling water discharged from the first discharge port and the second discharge port passes. In addition, the recovery passage 233b penetrates from a side of the central cover 231b (the right side of the central cover 231b in FIG. 6) to the second connection passage 233a, and recovers the cooling water passing through the second connection passage 233a.

[0051] Meanwhile, the recovery passage 233b passes through the side of the central cover 231b protruding outward from the side cover 231a to the second connection passage 233a. That is, since the central cover protrudes further outward than the side covers, the recovery passage can pass through the side of the central cover to be connected to the second connection passage. This can improve the space utilization of the side of the central cover 231b, and as a result, the increase in the volume of the battery module 10 in the overall length direction can be minimized.

[0052] Meanwhile, coupling holes 232c into which the first supply port 213 and the second supply port 223 are fitted and coupled are formed at both ends of the first connection passage 232a, and the first and second supply ports 213, 223 and the coupling holes 232c may have a larger diameter than the first connection passage 232a. Thus, the first and second supply ports 213, 223 are inserted into the coupling holes 232c and then supported by the first connection passage 232a, thereby improving the coupling.

[0053] In particular, the first supply port 213 and the second supply port 223 are formed with a coupling piece 213a that is fitted and coupled to the first connection passage 232a. That is, the coupling piece 213a has a cylindrical shape. This can increase the coupling force and sealing force between the first connection passage 232a and the first and second supply ports 213 and 223.

[0054] Meanwhile, a sealing ring 234 may be provided between the coupling hole 232c of the first connection passage 232a and the first supply port 213, or between the coupling hole 232c of the first connection passage 232a and the second supply port 223. That is, the sealing ring 234 may significantly increase the sealing force between the coupling hole 232c of the first connection passage 232a and the first supply port 213, or between the coupling hole 232c of the first connection passage 232a and the second supply port 223. Meanwhile, two or more sealing rings 234 may be provided.

[0055] Meanwhile, coupling holes 233c into which the first and second exhaust ports are fitted and coupled are formed at both ends of the second connection passage 233a, and the first and second exhaust ports and the coupling holes 233c have a larger diameter than the second connection passage 233a. Thus, the first and second exhaust ports are supported by the second connection passage 233a after being inserted into the coupling holes 233c, thereby improving the coupling.

[0056] Meanwhile, a connecting piece 214a is formed in the first exhaust port 214 and the second exhaust port 224 to connect to the second connection passage 233a. That is, the connecting piece 214a has a cylindrical shape. This can increase the connecting force and sealing force between the second connection passage 233a and the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port.

[0057] Meanwhile, a sealing ring 234 may be provided between the coupling hole of the second connection passage 233a and the first exhaust port 214, or between the coupling hole of the second connection passage 233a and the second exhaust port 224. That is, the sealing ring 234 can greatly increase the sealing force between the coupling hole of the second connection passage 233a and the first exhaust port 214, or between the coupling hole of the second connection passage 233a and the second exhaust port 224.

[0058] Meanwhile, the case assembly 200 may further include a pair of side plates 240 respectively covering both sides in a full width direction of the battery cell 100. In particular, the side plates 240 may be integrally formed with the bottom plate 221, thereby improving efficiency when assembling the battery module.

[0059] Meanwhile, the case assembly 200 may further include a rear plate 250 that covers the other end of the battery cell 100 in the overall length direction. Thus, the other end of the battery cell 100 in the overall length direction may be stably protected.

[0060] Meanwhile, the case assembly 200 is made up of a top plate 211, a bottom plate 221, a pair of side plates 240, and a rear plate 250 assembled together, and is capable of housing and cooling the entire battery cell 100.

[0061] The battery module 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration can uniformly cool the upper and lower parts of the battery cells 100, and in particular, can minimize the temperature deviation throughout the battery cells 100, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0062] A method for assembling and operating the battery module 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[0063] [Method of assembling and operating a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention] 8, the battery cell 100 is disposed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 221 integrated with the side plate 240. Here, the second supply port 223 and the second exhaust port 224 coupled to the lower extension portion 221a of the bottom plate 221 are positioned apart from the battery cell 100.

[0064] Next, as shown in Fig. 9, the connector member 230 is disposed on one surface in the overall length direction of the battery cell 100. At this time, the lower end of the first connection passage 232a provided in the supply section 232 is coupled to the second supply port 223, and the lower end of the second connection passage 233a provided in the recovery section 233 is coupled to the second discharge port 224. Here, the second supply port 223 is coupled to a coupling hole provided in the lower end of the first connection passage 232a, and the coupling piece 223a of the second supply port 223 is coupled to the first connection passage 232a, thereby enhancing the coupling force. In addition, the second discharge passage is coupled to a coupling hole provided in the lower end of the second connection passage 233a, and the coupling piece 224a of the second discharge port 224 is coupled to the second connection passage 233a, thereby enhancing the coupling force. In addition, sealing rings 234 are provided between the first connection passage 232a and the second supply port 223 and between the second connection passage 233a and the second discharge port 224 to enhance sealing power.

[0065] Next, the rear plate 250 is joined to the other surface of the battery cell 100 in the overall length direction.

[0066] Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the top cooling member 210 is disposed on the upper portion of the battery cell 100. Here, the first supply port 213 and the first exhaust port 214 coupled to the upper extension portion 211a of the top plate 211 are positioned apart from the battery cell 100. Also, the first supply port 213 is coupled to the upper end of the first connection passage 232a, and the first exhaust port 214 is coupled to the upper end of the second connection passage 233a. Here, the first supply port 213 is coupled to a coupling hole provided at the upper end of the first connection passage 232a, and the coupling piece 213a of the first supply port 213 is coupled to the first connection passage 232a, thereby enhancing the coupling force. Also, the first exhaust port 214 is coupled to a coupling hole provided at the upper end of the second connection passage 233a, and the coupling piece 214a of the first exhaust port 214 is coupled to the second connection passage 233a, thereby enhancing the coupling force. In addition, sealing rings 234 are provided between the first connection passage 232a and the first supply port 213 and between the second connection passage 233a and the first discharge port 214 to enhance sealing power.

[0067] When the assembly is completed in this manner, a finished battery module 10 as shown in FIG. 11 can be obtained.

[0068] In the completed battery module 10 as described above, a cooling water supply line is connected to the supply passage 232b of the supply unit 232, and a cooling water recovery line is connected to the recovery passage 233b of the recovery unit 233. Then, while the battery module 10 is being charged and discharged, cooling water is supplied to the battery module 10 through the supply line. As a result, the cooling water supplied through the supply line passes through the supply passage 232b of the supply unit 232, the first connecting passage 232a, the first supply port and the second supply port 213, 223 in order, and then flows into the first heat sink and the second heat sink 222 to cool the entire battery cell 100. Meanwhile, the cooling water that has passed through the first heat sink and the second heat sink 222 flows into the second connecting passage 233a through the first discharge port and the second discharge port 214, 224, and the cooling water that has flowed into the second connecting passage 233a is recovered to the recovery line through the recovery passage 233b. The cooling water is then fed back into the supply line after undergoing a cooling process.

[0069] In the following description of other embodiments of the present invention, the same components as those in the above-described embodiment will be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0070] [Battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention] As shown in FIG. 12, a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module 10 and a pack case 20 in which at least one battery module 10 is housed.

[0071] On the other hand, the battery module 10 has the same configuration as the battery module 10 described in the first embodiment, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0072] The pack case 20 includes a supply line 21 that supplies cooling water to the supply passage 232b of the battery module 10, and a recovery line 22 through which cooling water passes that is recovered from the recovery passage 233b of the battery module 10. That is, the supply line is connected to the supply passage 232b of the supply unit 232 provided in the battery module 10, and the recovery line is connected to the recovery passage 233b of the recovery unit 233 provided in the battery module 10.

[0073] Therefore, the battery pack 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention can improve the cooling efficiency of the entire battery module 10, and in particular, can minimize the cooling deviation.

[0074] [Automobile according to the third embodiment of the present invention] As shown in FIG. 13, a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a battery pack 1 and a cooling water supply device 2 that supplies cooling water to a supply line of the battery pack 1 or collects cooling water passing through a collection line.

[0075] On the other hand, the battery pack has the same configuration as the battery pack described in the second embodiment, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0076] The cooling water supply device may be a radiator that uses cooling water to cool the engine. That is, the radiator supplies a portion of the cooling water that cools the engine to the battery pack, or recovers the cooling water that has passed through the battery pack.

[0077] Therefore, the vehicle according to the third embodiment of the present invention can have improved performance by including a battery pack with high cooling efficiency.

[0078] Meanwhile, the case assembly may function as a battery module or a battery pack, and in particular, the case assembly may be provided with a separate housing for accommodating battery cells on the outside.

[0079] The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims set forth below rather than by the above detailed description, and various embodiments are possible within the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalent concepts. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1 Battery pack 2 Cooling water supply device 10 Battery module 20 pack case 21 Supply Line 22 Recovery Line 100 Battery Cells 200 Case Assembly 210 Top cooling component 211 Top Plate 211a Upper extension 212 1st heat sink 213 First supply port 213a, 214a, 223a, 224a joint piece 214 First exhaust port 220 Bottom cooling member 221 Bottom Plate 221a Lower extension 222 Second heat sink 223 Second supply port 224 Second discharge port 230 Connector parts 231 Front Plate 231a Side cover 231b Center cover 232 Supply section 232a 1st connecting passage 232b Supply passage 232c coupling hole 233 Collection Department 233a 2nd connecting passage 233c coupling hole 233b Recovery Passage 234 Sealing Ring 240 Side Plate 250 rear plate

Claims

1. A battery module, a case assembly for housing and cooling the battery cells; The case assembly includes: a top cooling member including a top plate that covers an upper surface of the battery cell, a first heat sink through which cooling water passes to cool the upper surface of the battery cell, a first supply port that supplies cooling water to the first heat sink, and a first discharge port that discharges the cooling water that has passed through the first heat sink; a bottom cooling member including a bottom plate that covers a lower surface of the battery cell, a second heat sink through which cooling water passes to cool the lower surface of the battery cell, a second supply port that supplies cooling water to the second heat sink, and a second discharge port that discharges the cooling water that has passed through the second heat sink; a connector member including a front plate that covers one face of the battery cell in the overall length direction, a supply portion that supplies cooling water to the first supply port and the second supply port, and a recovery portion that recovers the cooling water discharged from the first discharge port and the second discharge port; Including, the front plate includes a pair of side covers respectively covering both sides of the battery cell in a full length direction, and a central cover provided between the pair of side covers and in which the supply portion and the recovery portion are provided, The central cover is provided so as to protrude further outward than the side covers. Battery module.

2. The supply section and the recovery section are provided inside the front plate. The battery module according to claim 1 .

3. The supply unit includes: a first connection passage that is provided to penetrate the central cover from above to below, and has an upper end and a lower end to which the first supply port and the second supply port are respectively connected, and supplies cooling water to the first supply port and the second supply port; a supply passage extending from an exterior of the central cover to the first connecting passage and supplying cooling water to the first connecting passage; The battery module of claim 2 .

4. The supply passage extends from a side portion of the central cover protruding outward from the side cover to the first connecting passage. The battery module according to claim 3 .

5. The recovery section includes: a second connection passage provided to vertically penetrate the central cover, the first discharge port and the second discharge port being respectively connected to an upper end and a lower end of the second connection passage, through which the cooling water discharged from the first discharge port and the second discharge port passes; a recovery passage that passes through the side portion of the central cover to the second connecting passage and recovers the cooling water passing through the second connecting passage; The battery module of claim 2 .

6. The recovery passage extends from a side portion of the central cover protruding outward from the side cover to the second connecting passage. The battery module according to claim 5 .

7. The first connection passage has connection holes at both ends thereof, into which the first supply port and the second supply port are fitted, respectively. The first supply port and the second supply port are provided with a coupling piece that is coupled to the first connection passage. The battery module according to claim 3 .

8. The second connection passage has connection holes at both ends thereof, into which the first and second exhaust ports are fitted, respectively. The first exhaust port and the second exhaust port are provided with a connecting piece that is connected to the second connection passage. The battery module according to claim 5 .

9. a sealing ring is provided between the coupling hole of the first connection passage and the first supply port, or between the coupling hole of the first connection passage and the second supply port; The battery module according to claim 7.

10. a sealing ring is provided between the coupling hole of the second connection passage and the first exhaust port, or between the coupling hole of the second connection passage and the second exhaust port; The battery module according to claim 8 .

11. The battery module further comprises: A pair of side plates respectively covering both sides of the battery cell in a full width direction; The battery module according to claim 1 .

12. The pair of side plates and the bottom plate are integrally formed. The battery module according to claim 11.

13. The battery module further comprises: A rear plate covers the other side of the battery cell in the overall length direction. The battery module according to claim 1 .

14. A battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 13, A pack case in which at least one battery module is housed, The pack case includes: a supply line for supplying cooling water to the supply passage of the battery module; a recovery line through which cooling water recovered from the recovery passage of the battery module passes.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14; a cooling water supply device that supplies cooling water to a supply line of the battery pack or collects cooling water passing through a collection line; Including, automobiles.

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