A battery pack including a battery module and a motor vehicle including the same

Abstract

A battery pack including a battery module and a motor vehicle including the same are disclosed. A battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a module case in which the battery cell stack is accommodated and at least one moving port through which flame and gas move is formed, a plurality of battery modules each provided with the above, a pack case in which the plurality of battery modules are accommodated and an exhaust port is formed between the battery modules, and a flame and gas propagation prevention member disposed between the battery module and the pack case to prevent propagation of flame or gas generated from the battery cell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0018965 filed on February 13, 2023, and all of the content disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application is incorporated into this application.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack including a battery module and an automobile including the same, and more particularly, to a battery pack including a battery module capable of preventing the propagation of flame or gas and ensuring the stability of the battery module, and an automobile including the same.

Background Art

[0003] With the development of technology and the increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has increased rapidly. Conventionally, nickel-cadmium batteries or hydrogen ion batteries have been used as secondary batteries, but recently, lithium secondary batteries, which have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, are freely chargeable and dischargeable, have a very low self-discharge rate, and have a high energy density, are widely used.

[0004] Such a lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate, each coated with such a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, are disposed with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material for enclosing the electrode assembly together with an electrolytic solution, for example, a battery case.

[0005] A lithium secondary battery consists of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed therebetween, and an electrolyte, and is classified into a lithium ion battery (LIB), a polymer lithium ion battery (PLIB), etc., depending on what materials are used as the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material. Usually, the electrodes of these lithium secondary batteries are formed by applying a positive electrode or negative electrode active material to a current collector such as an aluminum or copper sheet, mesh, film, or foil, and then drying. And various types of secondary batteries are equipped with a housing that can protect the battery cells and can be used in the form of a module in which a plurality of battery cells are housed.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing how a flame or gas generated from any one of a plurality of battery modules included in a conventional battery pack propagates to other battery modules.

[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, a flame or gas generated from any battery module 1 among a plurality of battery modules propagates to adjacent battery modules 2, 3, 4 along the directions of arrow A and arrow B, and finally propagates to the remaining battery modules 5, 6.

[0008] As a result, due to the chain reaction of the flame and gas to other battery modules, there is a problem that the battery module or the battery pack may be damaged, completely burned, or exploded, and the stability of the battery module cannot be ensured.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] Accordingly, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the propagation to adjacent battery modules by discharging the flame or gas generated from the battery cell in a preset direction, thereby providing a battery pack including a battery module capable of ensuring the stability of the battery module and the battery pack, and an automobile including the same.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, there may be provided a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules each including a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a module case in which the battery cell stack is housed and at least one moving port through which a flame and gas move is formed, a pack case in which the plurality of battery modules are housed and an exhaust port is formed between the battery modules, and a flame and gas propagation prevention member disposed between the battery module and the pack case to prevent the propagation of the flame or gas generated from the battery cell.

[0011] In one embodiment, the module case includes an upper module case, a lower module case, and a side module case, the pack case includes an upper pack case, a lower pack case, and a side pack case, and the flame and gas propagation prevention member can be interposed between the upper module case and the upper pack case to prevent the flame or the gas from propagating to other adjacent battery modules.

[0012] In one embodiment, the flame and gas propagation prevention member may be disposed only on a part of a plurality of edges outside the upper module case.

[0013] In one embodiment, the upper module case of the module case is formed in a square shape, and the flame gas propagation prevention member may be arranged at a portion of an outer edge of the upper module case where adjacent battery modules are arranged, and may be configured not to be arranged at a portion of the outer edge where adjacent battery modules are not arranged.

[0014] In one embodiment, the moving port may be formed in the upper module case.

[0015] In one embodiment, the flame gas propagation prevention member may be formed in a "U" shape.

[0016] In one embodiment, the exhaust port may be formed at a portion where the flame gas propagation prevention member is not arranged.

[0017] In one embodiment, the flame gas propagation prevention member may be in close contact with each of the upper module case and the upper pack case.

[0018] In one embodiment, the flame gas propagation prevention member may be composed of iron, stainless steel (SUS: Steel Use Stainless), mica or glass fiber.

[0019] On the other hand, according to another aspect of the present invention, an automobile including the above-described battery pack may be provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] Embodiments of the present invention have the effect of discharging a flame or gas generated from a battery cell in a preset direction to prevent propagation to an adjacent battery module, thereby ensuring the stability of the battery module and the battery pack.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terms and words used in this specification and the claims are not to be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings. The inventor shall interpret them in accordance with the meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention in accordance with the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain the invention in the best way. 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 equivalent and modified embodiments that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0023] In the drawings, the size of each component or a specific part constituting the component is exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown for ease of explanation and clarity. Therefore, the size of each component does not fully reflect the actual size. When it is recognized that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0024] As used herein, the terms "coupled" or "connected" include not only the case where one member is directly coupled or directly connected to another member, but also the case where one member is indirectly coupled or indirectly connected to another member via a joint member.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a plurality of battery modules in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the plurality of battery modules in FIG. 2 are in close contact with the upper pack case of the battery pack, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B' of FIG. 3. In the cases of FIGS. 3 and 5, illustration of the lower pack case and the side pack case is omitted.

[0026] Referring to the drawings, a battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module 100, a pack case 200, and a flame gas propagation prevention member 300.

[0027] A plurality of battery modules 100 are provided and arranged in a variety of ways. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, they can be arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0028] A battery cell laminate 110 (see FIG. 4) and a module case 120 may be provided in the battery module 100.

[0029] The battery cell laminate 110 may be configured such that a plurality of battery cells are laminated. The battery cells may have a variety of structures, and the plurality of battery cells may be laminated in a variety of ways.

[0030] The battery cell may have a structure in which a plurality of unit cells arranged in the order of positive electrode plate - separator - negative electrode plate or a bi - cell arranged in the order of positive electrode plate - separator - negative electrode plate - separator - positive electrode plate - separator - negative electrode plate are stacked according to the capacity of the battery.

[0031] Electrode leads may be provided in the battery cell. The electrode lead is a kind of terminal that is exposed to the outside and connected to an external device, and a conductive material may be used. The electrode lead may include a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead.

[0032] The positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be arranged in opposite directions with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell, or the positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be located in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

[0033] A plurality of cartridges (not shown) for accommodating the battery cells may be provided in the battery cell stack 110. Each cartridge (not shown) can be manufactured by injection molding of plastic, and a plurality of cartridges (not shown) having an accommodating portion capable of accommodating the battery cell may be stacked. A connector element or a terminal element may be provided in the cartridge assembly in which a plurality of cartridges (not shown) are stacked.

[0034] The connector element may include various forms of electrical connection components or connection members for connection to, for example, a battery management system (BMS) (not shown) capable of providing data related to the voltage or temperature of the battery cell.

[0035] The terminal element includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal as main terminals connected to the battery cell. The terminal element may be provided with a terminal bolt and electrically connected to the outside. On the other hand, the battery cell may have various shapes.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 4, the battery cell stack 110 is accommodated in the module case 120. The module case 120 surrounds the battery cells, thereby protecting the battery cells from external vibration and impact.

[0037] The module case 120 can be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the battery cell stack 110. For example, when the battery cells and the battery cell stack 110 are provided in a hexahedral shape with a square cross-section, the module case 120 can also be provided in a hexahedral shape corresponding thereto. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0038] Here, the module case 120 can include an upper module case 121, a lower module case 122, and side module cases 123. And, for example, the upper module case 121 of the module case 120 can be formed in a square shape.

[0039] A flame gas propagation prevention member 300, which will be described later, can be disposed on a part of a plurality of outer edges of the upper module case 121.

[0040] And, at least one moving port 126 through which flame and gas move is formed in the module case 120. Referring to FIG. 2, the plurality of moving ports 126 can be formed in the upper module case 121. That is, the flame or gas generated from the battery cells moves to the outside of the module case 120 through the plurality of moving ports 126 formed in the upper module case 121.

[0041] Also, the module case 120 can be manufactured, for example, by bending a metal material plate, whereby the module case 120 can be manufactured integrally. When the module case 120 is manufactured integrally, the joining process is simplified and, moreover, there is an effect that it becomes simple. Alternatively, the module case 120 may be provided in a separable type and joined by welding or the like. However, the material of the module case 120 is not limited to a metal material.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 4, a plurality of battery modules 100 are accommodated in the pack case 200. The pack case 200 may include, for example, an upper pack case 210, a lower pack case 220, and a side pack case 230.

[0043] And, an exhaust port 211 may be formed between the battery module 100, for example, the upper module case 121 of the battery module 100 and the pack case 200, for example, the upper pack case 210 of the pack case 200.

[0044] As described above, the flame or gas that has moved outside the module case 120 through the moving port 126 formed in the module case 120 can be completely discharged outside the pack case 200 through the exhaust port 211 (see arrow X in FIG. 3).

[0045] That is, the flame or gas that has moved outside the module case 120 (upper side in FIG. 3) through the moving port 126 formed in the module case 120 in FIG. 3 is blocked by the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 and cannot move in the direction in which the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is disposed, and is discharged in the direction of arrow X through the exhaust port 211 where the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is not disposed.

[0046] The flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is disposed between the battery module 100 and the pack case 200 to prevent the propagation of the flame or gas generated from the battery cell. For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 may be interposed between the upper module case 121 and the upper pack case 210.

[0047] And, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 may be in close contact with each of the upper module case 121 and the upper pack case 210.

[0048] Here, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 can be composed of iron, stainless steel (SUS: Steel Use Stainless), mica, or glass fiber, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0049] Thereby, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 can prevent the flame or gas from propagating to other adjacent battery modules 100.

[0050] Specifically, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 can be disposed only on a part of a plurality of outer edges of the upper module case 121.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 for an example, when the upper module case 121 of the module case 120 is formed in a square shape, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is disposed on the part of the outer edge of the upper module case 121 where the adjacent battery module 100 is disposed, and can be configured not to be disposed on the part of the outer edge where the adjacent battery module 100 is not disposed.

[0052] That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 can be formed in a "C" shape. However, if necessary, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 may be disposed on the part of the outer edge where the adjacent battery module 100 is not disposed.

[0053] Then, referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, an exhaust port 211 can be formed in a part of the outer edge of the upper module case 121 where the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is not disposed. That is, the exhaust port 211 can be formed between the upper module case 121 and the upper pack case 210.

[0054] Hereinafter, the configuration and operation and effects of the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0055] Inside the pack case 200 of the battery pack 10, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of battery modules 100 are arranged. In the upper module case 121 of the battery module 100, a moving port 126 through which flame or gas can move is formed.

[0056] Here, a flame gas propagation prevention member 300 adheres to a part of a plurality of outer edges of the upper module case 121. That is, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is interposed and adheres between the upper module case 121 and the upper pack case 210.

[0057] With such a structure, as shown in FIG. 3, the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 can adhere to the other plurality of edges except for a part of the plurality of outer edges of the upper module case 121.

[0058] And an exhaust port 211 is formed in a portion where the flame gas propagation prevention member 300 is not arranged between the upper module case 121 and the upper pack case 210. Here, no battery module 100 is arranged in the direction facing the exhaust port 211.

[0059] That is, even if flame or gas is generated from the battery cells in the battery module 100, and after the flame or gas moves outside the battery module 100 through the moving port 126 of the battery module 100 and is discharged through the exhaust port 211, the flame or gas will not propagate to other battery modules 100.

[0060] As a result, there is an effect that the stability of the battery module 100 and the battery pack 10 can be ensured.

[0061] On the one hand, an automobile (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the battery pack 10 described above, and the battery pack 10 includes battery modules 100. And the battery pack 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a predetermined automobile (not shown) provided to use electricity, such as the aforementioned automobile (not shown), for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0062] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains within the equivalent scope of the technical idea and claims of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0063] The present invention relates to a battery pack including battery modules and an automobile including the same, and in particular, it is applicable to industries related to secondary batteries.

Explanation of Signs

[0064] 10 Battery pack 100 Battery module 110 Battery cell laminate 120 Module case 121 Upper module case 122 Lower module case 123 Side module case 126 Transfer port 200 Pack case 210 Upper pack case 211 Exhaust port 220 Lower pack case 230 Side pack case 300 Flame gas propagation prevention member A Arrow B Arrow X Arrow

Claims

1. A plurality of battery modules, each including a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a module case that houses the battery cell stack and has at least one moving port through which flames and gas move; A pack case that houses a plurality of the battery modules and has an exhaust port formed therebetween; A flame and gas propagation prevention member disposed between the battery module and the pack case to prevent propagation of flames or gas generated from the battery cell; A battery pack including the above components.

2. The module case includes an upper module case, a lower module case, and a side module case. The pack case includes an upper pack case, a lower pack case, and a side pack case. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the flame and gas propagation prevention member is interposed between the upper module case and the upper pack case to prevent the flame or the gas from propagating to other adjacent battery modules.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the flame and gas propagation prevention member is disposed only on a part of a plurality of outer edges of the upper module case.

4. The upper module case of the module case is formed in a rectangular shape, and the flame and gas propagation prevention member is disposed on a part of the outer edge of the upper module case where an adjacent battery module is disposed, and is not disposed on a part of the outer edge where no adjacent battery module is disposed. The battery pack according to claim 3.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4, wherein the moving port is formed in the upper module case.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the flame and gas propagation prevention member is formed in a "C" shape.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, wherein the exhaust port is formed in a portion where the flame and gas propagation prevention member is not disposed.

8. The battery pack according to claim 2, wherein the flame and gas propagation prevention member is in close contact with each of the upper module case and the upper pack case.

9. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the flame gas propagation prevention member is made of iron, stainless steel (SUS: Steel Use Stainless), mica or glass fiber.

10. An automobile comprising the battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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