Battery pack case and battery pack including same

Abstract

A battery pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a base plate, a side plate located along the periphery of the base plate and connected at its lower side to the base plate, a cover plate covering an upper side of the side plate and forming an accommodation space inside the base plate, a partition plate located in the accommodation space and dividing the accommodation space into a plurality of spaces, and a top plate located above the cover plate to form a flow path between the cover plate and the side plate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0117480 filed on September 16, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0120686 filed on September 11, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack case and a battery pack including the same. [Background technology]

[0003] Generally, secondary batteries are classified into nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion polymer batteries. These secondary batteries are used not only in small products such as digital cameras, DVD players, MP3 players, mobile phones, PDAs, portable game devices, power tools, and electric bicycles, but also in large products that require high output, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, as well as in power storage devices and backup power storage devices that store surplus generated power and new / renewable energy.

[0004] To manufacture such a secondary battery, first, an electrode active material slurry is applied to a positive electrode current collector and a negative electrode current collector to form a positive electrode and a negative electrode, which are then stacked on both sides of a separator to form an electrode assembly of a predetermined shape.The electrode assembly is then placed in a battery case, an electrolyte is injected, and the battery case is sealed.

[0005] Secondary batteries are divided into pouch types and can types depending on the material of the case that houses the electrode assembly. Pouch types house the electrode assembly in a pouch made of a flexible polymer material, while can types house the electrode assembly in a case made of metal or plastic.

[0006] A plurality of such secondary batteries are housed together to form a battery module, and a plurality of battery modules are housed in a specific pack case to manufacture a battery pack.

[0007] As described above, during the manufacturing process of a battery pack and its use in facilities and devices, the battery modules housed inside may be damaged and release high-temperature heat and gas. The gas trapped inside the housing space without being released to the outside may cause secondary damage, such as an explosion of the battery pack or further damage to the battery modules. Alternatively, when multiple battery modules are housed in multiple housing spaces, gas generated from a specific battery module may spread to other battery modules in other spaces, causing damage caused by the gas to spread to the other battery modules.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a battery pack that includes a structure that can more effectively exhaust the gas generated from the battery module and prevent the gas from spreading to other spaces. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] One problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery pack that cools and exhausts gas and heat generated from a battery module through a flow path structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] A battery pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a base plate, a side plate located along the periphery of the base plate and connected at its lower side to the base plate, a cover plate covering an upper side of the side plate and forming an accommodation space inside the base plate, a partition plate located in the accommodation space and dividing the accommodation space into a plurality of spaces, and a top plate located above the cover plate to form a flow path between the cover plate and the side plate.

[0011] The cover plate may include a first plate connected to an upper side of the side plate, and a second plate connected to an upper side of the first plate and having a melting point lower than that of the first plate.

[0012] The cover plate can block communication between the spaces partitioned by the partition plate.

[0013] The cover plate may have a plurality of cover regions formed above the spaces corresponding to the positions of the spaces.

[0014] The first plate may include a plurality of holes.

[0015] The plurality of holes may be formed in the cover region.

[0016] The melting point of the second plate may be lower than the melting point of the top plate.

[0017] The cover plate may further include a fixing pin that fixes the first plate to the partition plate.

[0018] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module including a case forming an accommodation space therein and a plurality of secondary batteries, and positioned in the accommodation space, and the case may include a base plate, side plates positioned along the periphery of the base plate and connected at their lower sides to the base plate, a cover plate covering an upper side of the side plate and forming an accommodation space inside the base plate, a partition plate positioned in the accommodation space and dividing the accommodation space into a plurality of spaces, and a top plate positioned above the cover plate to form a flow path between the cover plate and the side plate.

[0019] The cover plate may include a first plate connected to an upper side of the side plate, and a second plate connected to an upper side of the first plate and having a melting point lower than that of the first plate.

[0020] The cover plate can block communication between the spaces partitioned by the partition plate.

[0021] The cover plate may have a plurality of cover regions formed above the spaces, respectively, to correspond to the positions of the spaces.

[0022] The first plate may include a plurality of holes, and the plurality of holes may be formed in the cover region.

[0023] The melting point of the second plate may be lower than the melting point of the top plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, gas and heat generated from the battery module are cooled and exhausted through a flow path structure, thereby preventing problems such as explosion or damage to the battery pack due to gas and heat.

[0025] Other effects may be included that can be easily predicted by a person skilled in the art from the configuration according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention, and the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited solely to the matters depicted in such drawings.

[0027] [Figure 1] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack according to a comparative example. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing gas and heat generation in a battery pack according to a comparative example. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a cross-sectional view of gas and heat generation in a battery pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of a cover plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cover plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a plan view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above; [Figure 8] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028]

[0030] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention; however, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the following embodiments.

[0029] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts that are not relevant to the description or related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention are omitted, and when referring to components in each drawing in this specification, the same or similar reference symbols are used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0030] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a limited way to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventors can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best explain their invention.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack 2 according to a comparative example, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the state in which gas and heat are generated in the battery pack 2 according to the comparative example.

[0032] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the battery pack 2 according to the comparative example includes a case C that forms the exterior and has an internal storage space, a partition wall W located inside the case C that divides the storage space into multiple spaces, and multiple battery modules M located in the multiple spaces.

[0033] When a battery pack 2 houses battery modules M inside, if a specific battery module M emits gas and high-temperature heat due to internal damage or external factors, the pressure in the specific space housing the specific battery module M may increase. The increased pressure in the specific space may cause damage to a specific portion of the case C. In particular, the bonding force between the case C and the partition wall W may weaken, causing damage to the joint between the case C and the partition wall W.

[0034] Due to this phenomenon, high temperature heat and gas generated in a specific battery module M may flow into other spaces and affect other adjacent battery modules M. As a result, not only may the case C be destroyed by the gas and heat generated in a specific battery module M, but the gas and heat may also spread to other battery modules M, causing the damage to spread.

[0035] Therefore, there is a need for a battery pack that can more effectively exhaust such gases and heat to prevent damage to other battery modules and prevent the problem of damage spreading.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a battery pack case 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] 3, the battery pack case 10 forms an accommodation space inside and can accommodate a battery module 11 (described later). In other words, with the battery module 11 accommodated inside, the battery pack case 10 can block communication between the internal space and the external space and protect the battery module 11 from external factors. For example, the battery pack case 10 can protect the battery module 11 from external environments such as high temperatures and weather, and can prevent the battery module 11 from being damaged by external forces.

[0038] Furthermore, the battery pack case 10 can divide the interior storage space into a plurality of spaces, and a plurality of battery modules 11 can be positioned in each of the spaces. The upper part of the battery pack case 10 has a double structure, and the battery pack case 10 can effectively exhaust gas and heat generated in a specific battery module 11.

[0039] However, the battery pack case 10 does not necessarily house a battery module 11, and the battery pack case 10 can also be used in a cell-to-pack (CTP) structure, i.e., a structure in which no modules are applied. In other words, the battery pack case 10 can house battery cells (not shown) including electrode assemblies in a plurality of spaces therein. That is, the battery cells (not shown) can be located inside the battery pack case 10. The battery cells (not shown) can include pouch-type secondary batteries or prismatic secondary batteries.

[0040] Specifically, the battery pack case 10 may include a base plate 100 , a side plate 101 , a cover plate 102 , and a partition plate 103 .

[0041] The base plate 100 may form the lower surface of the battery pack case 10. In other words, the base plate 100 may be located at the lowest end. The side plate 101 may be located along the periphery of the base plate 100. The lower side of the side plate 101 may be connected to the base plate 100. The cover plate 102 may cover the upper side of the side plate 101 and form an accommodating space inside the base plate 100. Furthermore, the partition plate 103 may be located in the accommodating space and may divide the accommodating space into multiple spaces. Finally, the top plate 104 may be located above the cover plate 102 to form a flow path F between the cover plate 102 and the top plate 104.

[0042] The cover plate 102 can block communication between the multiple spaces partitioned by the partition plate 103. In other words, the cover plate 102 can block communication between the multiple spaces partitioned by the partition plate 103 by being connected to the upper side of the side plate 101 and the upper side of the partition plate 103.

[0043] In this case, the cover plate 102 may have a plurality of cover regions formed above the spaces to correspond to the positions of the spaces. In other words, when viewed from above, the regions where the spaces are formed and the plurality of cover regions may be positioned to correspond to each other. Specifically, each portion of the cover plate 102 positioned above the spaces may be a cover region.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a cover plate according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a cover plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the cover plate 102 may include a first plate 1020 and a second plate 1021 .

[0046] The first plate 1020 may be connected to the upper side of the side plate 101. The first plate 1020 may also be connected to the upper side of the partition plate 103. The first plate 1020 may form the lower surface of the cover plate 102.

[0047] The first plate 1020 may include a plurality of holes H. For example, the plurality of holes H may be formed in the cover area. In other words, when viewed from above, the cover area and the area in which the plurality of holes H are formed may coincide. Incidentally, the area in which the cover area is not formed may be the area in which the cover plate 102 and the partition plate 103 are joined. Alternatively, the area in which the cover area is not formed may be the area in which the cover plate 102 and the side plate 101 are joined.

[0048] The second plate 1021 may be connected to an upper side of the first plate 1020. Unlike the first plate 1020, the second plate 1021 may include a plate structure in which no holes H are formed. In other words, the second plate 1021 may be formed in a shape that covers the plurality of holes H formed in the first plate 1020. Specifically, with the plurality of holes H of the first plate 1020 positioned above the accommodating space, the second plate 1021 may close the plurality of holes H to seal the accommodating space, thereby sealing the accommodating space by the second plate 1021.

[0049] In this case, the second plate 1021 may have a melting point lower than that of the first plate 1020. The melting point of the second plate 1021 may also be lower than that of the top plate 104.

[0050] The cover plate 102 may further include a fixing pin 105 that fixes the first plate 1020 to the compartment plate 103. Specifically, the fixing pin 105 has a pin shape and is formed to penetrate the first plate 1020 to connect the upper surface of the compartment plate 103 to the lower surface of the first plate 1020. In other words, the fixing pin 105 is formed to penetrate the first plate 1020 from the top to the bottom and is inserted into and coupled to the compartment plate 103 to connect and fix the cover plate 102 and the compartment plate 103 to each other.

[0051] As a result, when high temperature heat and gas are generated in the battery module 11, the second plate 1021 melts before the first plate 1020 and the top plate 104, allowing the gas to move to the flow path F between the cover plate 102 and the top plate 104. Since gas that is relatively cooled compared to the gas exists on the flow path F, the gas that has moved to the flow path F can be cooled by coming into contact with the cooled gas.

[0052] In this case, the fixing pin 105 fixes the partition plate 103 and the cover plate 102 to each other, and the cover plate 102 does not come off from the partition plate 103, so that the gas generated in the battery module 11 can move to the flow path F without being propagated to other adjacent battery modules 11.

[0053] The following describes a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Details that overlap with the details of the battery pack case 10 described above will be omitted below.

[0054] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the state in which gas and heat are generated in the battery pack 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] 3 and 4, the battery pack 1 includes a case 10 and battery modules 11 located inside the case 10, and can store electrical energy and output the stored electrical energy as needed and designed. Here, each battery module 11 can include a plurality of secondary batteries and can be accommodated in the inner space of the case 10.

[0056] The case 10 may include a base plate 100 , a side plate 101 , a cover plate 102 , and a compartment plate 103 .

[0057] The base plate 100 may form the lower surface of the battery pack case 10. In other words, the base plate 100 may be located at the lowest end. The side plate 101 may be located along the periphery of the base plate 100. The lower side of the side plate 101 may be connected to the base plate 100. The cover plate 102 may cover the upper side of the side plate 101 and form an accommodating space inside the base plate 100. Furthermore, the partition plate 103 may be located in the accommodating space and may divide the accommodating space into multiple spaces. Finally, the top plate 104 may be located above the cover plate 102 to form a flow path F between the cover plate 102 and the top plate 104.

[0058] The cover plate 102 can block communication between the multiple spaces partitioned by the partition plate 103. In addition, the cover plate 102 can form multiple cover areas above the multiple spaces, respectively, to correspond to the positions of the multiple spaces.

[0059] Specifically, the cover plate 102 may include a first plate 1020 and a second plate 1021. The first plate 1020 may be connected to the side plate 101 and the upper side of the partition plate 103. The first plate 1020 may include a plurality of holes H. For example, the plurality of holes H may be formed in the cover region.

[0060] The second plate 1021 may be connected to the upper side of the first plate 1020. The second plate 1021 may have a melting point lower than that of the first plate 1020. In addition, the melting point of the second plate 1021 may be lower than that of the top plate 104.

[0061] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the battery pack according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from above.

[0062] 7, the case 10 may further include a discharge passage 106 communicating with the flow path F and an exhaust port 107 communicating with the discharge passage 106. For example, gas generated in the battery module 11 may be discharged from the melted portion of the second plate 1021 through the plurality of grooves in the first plate 1020 and move to the discharge passage 106 along the flow path F. The gas that has moved to the discharge passage 106 may be discharged to the outside through the exhaust port 107.

[0063] Here, the exhaust port 107 may exhaust gas to the outside in various ways, including a pump, a fan, etc. Also, the exhaust passage 106 may be formed along the outer surface of the case 10. That is, the exhaust passage 106 may be formed along the periphery of the case 10.

[0064] Furthermore, a vehicle (not shown) according to another embodiment of the present invention may include the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, the vehicle (not shown) may utilize the electric energy stored in the battery pack 1 as a driving force. The vehicle may include a railroad vehicle and any transportation machine that travels on a road. For example, the vehicle may include an automobile, a motorized bicycle, a train, etc.

[0065] The above description is merely an illustrative example of the technical concept of the present invention, and various modifications and variations are possible by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

[0066] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited by such embodiments.

[0067] The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 Battery pack 10 cases 11 Battery module 100 base plate 101 Side Plate 102 Cover Plate 103 Compartment Plate 104 Top Plate 105 fixing pin 106 Discharge passage 107 Exhaust port 1020 Plate 1 1021 Second Plate F flow path H Hall

Claims

1. a case forming an internal storage space; a battery module including a plurality of secondary batteries and positioned in the accommodating space; The case is A base plate and a side plate positioned along the periphery of the base plate and having a lower side connected to the base plate; a cover plate that covers an upper side of the side plate and forms an accommodation space inside the base plate; a partition plate located in the storage space and partitioning the storage space into a plurality of spaces; a top plate positioned above the cover plate to form a flow path between the top plate and the cover plate.

2. The cover plate is a first plate connected to an upper side of the side plate; The battery pack of claim 1 , further comprising: a second plate coupled to an upper side of the first plate, the second plate having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first plate.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the cover plate blocks communication between the spaces partitioned by the partition plate.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3 , wherein the cover plate forms a plurality of cover regions above the plurality of spaces, respectively, corresponding to positions of the plurality of spaces.

5. The battery pack according to claim 4 , wherein the first plate includes a plurality of holes, and the plurality of holes are formed in the cover area.

6. The battery pack of claim 2 , wherein the melting point of the second plate is lower than the melting point of the top plate.

7. a case forming an internal storage space; a battery cell including an electrode assembly and positioned in the receiving space; The case is A base plate and a side plate positioned along the periphery of the base plate and having a lower side connected to the base plate; a cover plate that covers an upper side of the side plate and forms an accommodation space inside the base plate; a partition plate located in the storage space and partitioning the storage space into a plurality of spaces; a top plate positioned above the cover plate to form a flow path between the top plate and the cover plate.

8. The cover plate is a first plate connected to an upper side of the side plate; 8. The battery pack of claim 7, further comprising: a second plate coupled to an upper side of the first plate, the second plate having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first plate.

9. The battery pack according to claim 8 , wherein the cover plate blocks communication between the spaces partitioned by the partition plate.

10. A base plate and a side plate positioned along the periphery of the base plate and having a lower side connected to the base plate; a cover plate that covers an upper side of the side plate and forms an accommodation space inside the base plate; a partition plate located in the storage space and partitioning the storage space into a plurality of spaces; a top plate positioned above the cover plate to form a flow path between the top plate and the cover plate;

11. The cover plate is a first plate connected to an upper side of the side plate; The battery pack case according to claim 10 , further comprising: a second plate connected to an upper side of the first plate and having a melting point lower than a melting point of the first plate.

12. The battery pack case according to claim 11 , wherein the cover plate blocks communication between the spaces partitioned by the partition plate.

13. The battery pack case according to claim 12 , wherein the cover plate forms a plurality of cover regions above the plurality of spaces, respectively, to correspond to positions of the plurality of spaces.

14. The battery pack case according to claim 13 , wherein the first plate includes a plurality of holes.

15. The battery pack case according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of holes are formed in the cover area.

16. The battery pack case according to claim 11 , wherein the melting point of the second plate is lower than the melting point of the top plate.

17. The battery pack case according to claim 11 , wherein the cover plate further includes a fixing pin that fixes the first plate to the compartment plate.

18. A vehicle comprising the battery pack of claim 1.

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