Battery module, battery pack including the same, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle are disclosed. 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 case in which the battery cell stack is accommodated and a first discharge port through which gas is discharged is formed, and an exhaust path member coupled to the case to provide an exhaust path for the gas, the gas being discharged but the outflow of flame being prevented, and a second discharge port being formed. The exhaust path member is configured such that the gas moves in a straight line direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0024614 filed on February 23, 2023, and all the contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application are incorporated into this application.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle, and more particularly, to a battery module in which gas is discharged but a flame is not discharged when a battery cell ignites, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

Background Art

[0003] The recent development of technologies for mobile devices and the increasing demand are remarkable. Conventionally, nickel-cadmium batteries or hydrogen ion batteries have been used as secondary batteries, but recently, lithium secondary batteries that are more freely chargeable and dischargeable because they hardly exhibit a memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, 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 arranged with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material that encloses 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 can be formed by applying a positive or negative electrode active material to a current collector such as an aluminum or copper sheet, mesh, film, foil, etc. and then drying it.

[0006] Lithium secondary batteries are currently in the spotlight because they have advantages such as a high operating voltage and a much higher energy density. However, because they use an organic electrolyte solution, if a lithium secondary battery is overcharged, overcurrent and overheating will be caused, and in severe cases, there is a problem that it may cause an explosion or a fire due to ignition.

[0007] A variety of secondary batteries are equipped with a case that can protect the battery cells, and include a battery module in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked and drawn into the case, and a battery pack that includes a plurality of battery modules.

[0008] Here, if a flame occurs in at least one of the battery cells inside the case of the battery module, if the flame flows out of the case of the battery module, there is a risk not only that it will spread to other battery modules, but also that the user may be in danger.

[0009] For example, when a battery module or a battery pack is installed in an electric vehicle and a flame occurs in the battery cell and the flame flows out to the outside, there is a problem that the driver driving the electric vehicle may be burned or in danger.

[0010] Alternatively, if a flame generated from any battery module spreads to an adjacent battery module, there is a problem that the battery module or battery pack may be damaged, completely burned, or exploded due to a flame chain reaction, and the stability of the battery module cannot be ensured.

[0011] In order to solve such a problem, in the case of a conventional battery module, a staggered exhaust path member was attached so that the flame is blocked by the exhaust path member, but the gas is configured to move along the exhaust path member.

[0012] FIGS. 1 and 2 are exemplary views of an exhaust path member in a conventional battery module.

[0013] However, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the closed plates 2 arranged in the exhaust path member 1 in the conventional battery module are arranged in a staggered manner, there is a dead space (see X in FIG. 1) where the gas cannot move, or a vortex is generated (see Y in FIG. 2), and there is a problem that the gas flow is not smooth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0014] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and an automobile in which when a flame is generated in a battery cell, the gas is discharged to the outside of the case through a preset direction, but the flame is not discharged, and the flow during the movement of the gas can be smoothed.

MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0015] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a case in which the battery cell stack is accommodated and a first discharge port through which gas is discharged is formed, and an exhaust path member that is coupled to the case to provide a discharge path for the gas, the gas being discharged while the outflow of flame is prevented, and a second discharge port is formed. The exhaust path member can provide a battery module configured such that the gas moves in a straight line direction.

[0016] In one embodiment, the exhaust path member may include a main body coupled to the case and having the second discharge port formed therein, and a plurality of partition members formed inside the main body and provided such that the moving gases merge with each other and move in a straight line direction.

[0017] In one embodiment, the partition member may include a plurality of unit partitions each having an inclined portion formed to incline from a straight line, and a moving space through which gas can move may be formed between the plurality of unit partitions.

[0018] In one embodiment, the plurality of partition members may be arranged in a staggered pattern.

[0019] In one embodiment, the unit partition may include a linear central portion, a first inclined portion formed to incline with respect to the straight line from one end of the central portion, and a second inclined portion formed to incline with respect to the straight line from the other end of the central portion.

[0020] In one embodiment, the plurality of unit partitions may all be formed in the same size and shape.

[0021] In one embodiment, a first unit partition among the plurality of unit partitions and a second adjacent unit partition may be arranged in directions opposite to each other.

[0022] In one embodiment, the second inclined portion of the first unit partition among the plurality of unit partitions may be provided so as to approach the first inclined portion of the second adjacent unit partition.

[0023] In one embodiment, the second inclined portion of the first unit partition wall among the plurality of unit partition walls and the first inclined portion of the adjacent second unit partition wall may be arranged to be parallel to each other with a preset interval therebetween.

[0024] In one embodiment, a first gas that moves through a movement space between the second inclined portion of the first unit partition wall among the plurality of unit partition walls and the first inclined portion of the adjacent second unit partition wall, and a second gas that moves through a movement space between the second inclined portion of the second unit partition wall among the plurality of unit partition walls and the first inclined portion of the adjacent third unit partition wall may be provided so as to merge and move in a linear direction.

[0025] On the other hand, according to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack including the above-described battery module can be provided, and an automobile including the battery module can be provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, when a flame occurs in a battery cell, gas is discharged to the outside of the case through a preset direction, but the flame is not discharged, and the flow of the gas during movement can be smoothed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] 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, but rather, 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, they are to be construed in meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention. 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, and thus there may be various equivalents and modified embodiments that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0029] In the drawings, the size of each component or a specific part constituting the component is expressed with some exaggeration, omitted, or shown schematically 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.

[0030] As used in this specification, the terms “coupled” or “connected (linked)” include not only the case where one member is directly coupled or directly connected (linked) to another member, but also the case where one member is indirectly coupled or indirectly connected (linked) to another member via a coupling member.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembled state of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a view showing the flow of gas in a partition member of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the partition member in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a view showing the flow of gas in FIG. 6.

[0032] Referring to the same figure, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell stack 100, a case 200, and an exhaust path member 300.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the battery cell stack 100 may be configured such that a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked. The battery cells 110 may have a wide variety of structures, and the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked in a wide variety of ways.

[0034] The battery cell 110 may have a structure in which a plurality of unit cells (Unit Cell) arranged in the order of positive electrode plate - separator - negative electrode plate or a plurality of bi - cells (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.

[0035] Electrode leads may be provided on the battery cell 110. The electrode lead is a kind of terminal that is exposed to the outside and connected to an external device, and a conductive material can be used. The electrode lead may include a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead.

[0036] The positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be arranged in directions opposite to each other with respect to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110, 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 110.

[0037] The battery cell stack 100 may be provided with a plurality of cartridges (not shown) that accommodate the battery cells 110. Each cartridge (not shown) can be manufactured by injection molding of plastic, and a plurality of cartridges (not shown) formed with accommodation portions capable of accommodating the battery cells 110 can 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.

[0038] 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 regarding the voltage or temperature of the battery cell 110.

[0039] The terminal element includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal as main terminals connected to the battery cell 110. The terminal element may be provided with a terminal bolt and electrically connected to the outside. On the other hand, the battery cell 110 may have various shapes.

[0040] The battery cell stack 100 is accommodated in the case 200. The case 200 surrounds the battery cell 110, thereby protecting the battery cell 110 from external vibration and impact.

[0041] A first discharge port 210 through which gas is discharged is formed in the case 200. For example, referring to FIG. 4, the first discharge port 210 may be formed on the lower side of the case 200, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0042] The gas that has moved to the exhaust path member 300 through the first discharge port 210 of the case 200 moves along the exhaust path member 300 and is discharged through the second discharge port 311, but the flame is blocked by the exhaust path member 300 and cannot move.

[0043] The case 200 may include a mica plate formed from mica having heat insulation and heat resistance so as to prevent the outflow of flames. Here, the mica plate may cover not only flat mica plates but also shapes in which planes and curved surfaces are mixed.

[0044] The case 200 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the battery cell stack 100. For example, when the battery cell 110 and the battery cell stack 100 are provided in the shape of a hexahedron whose cross section is a quadrilateral, the case 200 may also be provided in the shape of a hexahedron so as to correspond thereto.

[0045] The case 200 can be manufactured, for example, by bending a plate made of a metal material, whereby the case 200 can be manufactured integrally. When the case 200 is manufactured integrally, there is an effect that the joining process becomes simple and moreover, it becomes simple. Alternatively, the case 200 may be provided in a separable type and joined by welding or the like. However, the material of the case 200 is not limited to a metal material.

[0046] The exhaust path member 300 is coupled to the case 200 to provide a gas discharge path, and the gas is discharged, but is configured to prevent the outflow of flames. Here, a second discharge port 311 is formed in the exhaust path member 300 so that the gas that has moved to the exhaust path member 300 through the first discharge port 210 of the case 200 is discharged to the outside.

[0047] For example, referring to FIG. 4, the second discharge port 311 may be formed at a position opposite to the first discharge port 210, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0048] The exhaust path member 300 is configured such that the gas moves in a straight line direction. This will be described in detail below.

[0049] The exhaust path member 300 may include a main body 310 and a partition member 320. The main body 310 is coupled to the case 200. And a second discharge port 311 is formed in the main body 310. The main body 310 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of the case 200, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0050] A plurality of partition members 320 are provided and formed inside the main body 310. The plurality of partition members 320 are arranged in various shapes so that the moving gases merge with each other and move in a straight line direction.

[0051] For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the partition member 320 may be formed by a plurality of unit partitions 321. Details thereof will be described later. And as shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of partition members 320 may be arranged in a staggered pattern.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 7, the partition member 320 may include a plurality of unit partitions 321a, 321b, 321c. Here, the number of the plurality of unit partitions 321a, 321b, 321c can be variously changed.

[0053] And referring to FIG. 6, the unit partition 321 is formed such that inclined portions 323, 324 formed to incline from a straight line are provided. For example, any one unit partition 321 may include a central portion 322, a first inclined portion 323, and a second inclined portion 324.

[0054] The central portion 322 may be formed linearly. And the first inclined portion 323 may be formed to incline with respect to the straight line from one end of the central portion 322. And the second inclined portion 324 may be formed to incline with respect to the straight line from the other end of the central portion 322.

[0055] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the plurality of unit partitions 321a, 321b, 321c may all be formed in the same size and shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 7, the first unit partition wall 321a among the plurality of unit partition walls 321a, 321b, 321c and the adjacent second unit partition wall 321b can be arranged in a direction facing each other. Also, the second unit partition wall 321b and the adjacent third unit partition wall 321c can also be arranged in a direction facing each other.

[0057] And the second inclined portion 324a of the first unit partition wall 321a among the plurality of unit partition walls 321a, 321b, 321c can be configured to approach the first inclined portion 323b of the adjacent second unit partition wall 321b.

[0058] And, for example, the second inclined portion 324a of the first unit partition wall 321a among the plurality of unit partition walls 321a, 321b, 321c and the first inclined portion 323b of the adjacent second unit partition wall 321b can be arranged to be parallel with a preset interval therebetween.

[0059] Thereby, a moving space 400 (see FIG. 6) through which gas can move can be formed between the plurality of unit partition walls 321a, 321b, 321c.

[0060] For example, referring to FIG. 7, the first gas 510 moves through the moving space 400 between the second inclined portion 324a of the first unit partition wall 321a and the first inclined portion 323b of the adjacent second unit partition wall 321b among the plurality of unit partition walls 321a, 321b, 321c.

[0061] And the second gas 520 moves through the moving space 400 between the second inclined portion 324b of the second unit partition wall 321b and the first inclined portion 323c of the adjacent third unit partition wall 321c among the plurality of unit partition walls 321a, 321b, 321c. Then, the first gas 510 and the second gas 520 merge and move in a linear direction (see arrow f in FIG. 7).

[0062] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, there is also a possibility that the third gas 530 moves in a curved direction along between the plurality of partition members 320.

[0063] That is, the gas that has moved to the exhaust path member 300 through the first discharge port 210 can move in a straight line by the confluence of the first gas 510 and the second gas 520, or can move in a curved direction like the third gas 530. Due to such a gas flow, it becomes possible to remove the dead space in FIG. 1 and the vortex flow in FIG. 2, and thereby there is an effect that the flow during the movement of the gas can be smoothed.

[0064] Hereinafter, the configuration and effects of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, an exhaust path member 300 is coupled to the lower part of the case 200. Then, the gas that has moved to the exhaust path member 300 through the first discharge port 210 of the case 200 continues to move along the exhaust path member 300 and is discharged through the second discharge port 311, but the flame is blocked by the exhaust path member 300 and its movement is prevented.

[0066] At this time, the exhaust path member 300 is provided with a plurality of unit partition walls 321 having inclined portions 323 and 324 formed to be inclined from a straight line, and are arranged to face each other alternately as shown in FIG. 6. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of partition wall members 320 including the unit partition walls 321 are provided, and the plurality of partition wall members 320 are arranged in a staggered manner.

[0067] Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the first gas 510 and the second gas 520 can move in a straight line by joining each other while moving along the unit partition wall 321, or as shown in FIG. 5, the third gas 530 can move in a curved direction. Thereby, the gas flow can be smoothed.

[0068] On the one hand, a battery pack (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above. Further, in addition to such a battery module 10, the battery pack (not shown) may further include a housing for accommodating such a battery module 10, various devices for controlling charging and discharging of the battery module 10, for example, a battery management system (BMS), a current sensor, a fuse, and the like.

[0069] On the other hand, a motor vehicle (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include the aforementioned battery module 10 or battery pack (not shown), and the battery pack (not shown) may include the battery module 10. And the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is applicable to a predetermined motor vehicle (not shown) provided to use electricity, such as the aforementioned motor vehicle, for example, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

[0070] As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, but 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 of the present invention and the appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

[0071] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a motor vehicle, and in particular, it is applicable to industries related to secondary batteries.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0072] 1 Exhaust path member 2 Plate 10 Battery module 100 Battery cell laminate 110 Battery cell 200 Case 210 First discharge port 300 Exhaust path member 310 Body 311 Second discharge port 320 Partition member 321 Unit partition 321a First unit partition 321b Second unit partition 321c Third unit partition 322 Central part 323, 323b, 323c First inclined part 324, 324a, 324b Second inclined part 400 Moving space 510 First gas 520 Second gas 530 Third gas

Claims

1. A battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, a case in which the battery cell stack is housed and a first discharge port through which gas is discharged is formed, an exhaust path member that is coupled to the case to provide a discharge path for the gas, the gas is discharged, but the outflow of flame is prevented, and a second discharge port is formed, comprising: The battery module, wherein the exhaust path member is configured such that the gas moves in a straight line direction.

2. The exhaust path member includes a main body that is coupled to the case and has the second discharge port formed therein, and a plurality of partition members that are formed inside the main body and are provided such that the moving gas merges with each other and moves in a straight line direction. The battery module according to claim 1.

3. The partition member includes a plurality of unit partitions each having an inclined portion formed to be inclined from a straight line, and a moving space through which gas can move is formed between the plurality of unit partitions. The battery module according to claim 2.

4. The plurality of partition members are arranged in a staggered pattern. The battery module according to claim 3.

5. The unit partition includes a linear central portion, a first inclined portion formed to be inclined with respect to the straight line from one end of the central portion, and a second inclined portion formed to be inclined with respect to the straight line from the other end of the central portion. The battery module according to claim 3.

6. All of the plurality of unit partitions are formed in the same size and shape. The battery module according to claim 5.

7. A first unit partition among the plurality of unit partitions and a second adjacent unit partition are arranged in opposite directions. The battery module according to claim 6.

8. The second inclined portion of the first unit partition among the plurality of unit partitions is provided so as to approach the first inclined portion of the second adjacent unit partition. The battery module according to claim 7.

9. The second inclined portion of the first unit partition among the plurality of unit partitions and the first inclined portion of the second adjacent unit partition are arranged in parallel with a preset interval therebetween. The battery module according to claim 8.

10. A first gas that moves through a movement space between a second inclined portion of a first unit partition wall among the plurality of unit partition walls and a first inclined portion of an adjacent second unit partition wall, and a second gas that moves through a movement space between a second inclined portion of the second unit partition wall among the plurality of unit partition walls and a first inclined portion of an adjacent third unit partition wall are provided so as to merge and move in a linear direction. The battery module according to claim 9.

11. A battery pack including the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An automobile including the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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