Battery module and battery pack including same

Abstract

The battery cell stack includes at least one sub-module, each of which includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a bus bar assembly including a bus bar electrically connected to the battery cell stack and a bus bar frame covering at least one side of the battery cell stack; a module frame in which the at least one sub-module is housed; and a fixing frame positioned to cover at least one side of the battery cell stack.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0102709, filed on August 7, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of this Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly to a battery module and a battery pack including the same with improved cooling performance, mechanical reliability, and safety. [Background technology]

[0003] With technological development and increasing demand for mobile devices, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly increasing. Accordingly, research into secondary batteries that can meet various needs is being actively conducted.

[0004] Secondary batteries have attracted much attention as energy sources for power plants such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles, as well as for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, and laptop computers.

[0005] In recent years, the need for large-capacity secondary battery structures has increased, including the use of secondary batteries as energy storage sources, and there has been an increasing demand for battery packs with medium to large modular structures that assemble battery modules in which multiple secondary batteries are connected in series or parallel.

[0006] Meanwhile, when a battery pack is constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in series / parallel, a common method is to construct a battery module consisting of at least one battery cell, and then use the at least one battery module to add other components to construct the battery pack.

[0007] Because the battery cells that make up such medium- to large-sized battery modules are composed of rechargeable secondary batteries, such high-power, large-capacity secondary batteries generate a large amount of heat during the charging and discharging process. In this case, the heat generated from the multiple battery cells can be combined in a small space, potentially causing a rapid temperature rise. In other words, a battery module with multiple stacked battery cells and a battery pack equipped with such a battery module can produce high power output, but it is difficult to remove the heat generated by the battery cells during charging and discharging. If the heat from the battery cells is not properly dissipated, the battery cells will deteriorate more quickly, shortening their lifespan and increasing the risk of explosion or fire.

[0008] Furthermore, battery modules included in vehicle battery packs are frequently exposed to direct sunlight and high temperature conditions such as in summer or desert regions. In addition, since multiple battery modules are placed close together to increase the vehicle's driving range, fire or heat generated in one battery module can easily spread to adjacent battery modules, ultimately leading to the battery pack itself catching fire or exploding.

[0009] To overcome this problem, at least two sub-modules can be electrically connected to form a long module, and a refrigerant such as insulating oil can be injected into the long module to directly cool the battery cells. Here, the sub-module is a battery cell stack to which a busbar assembly is attached, and can refer to a configuration of a conventional battery module without the module frame. In addition, the long module can be provided with a printed circuit board (PCB) that senses the battery cells, and the printed circuit board can be positioned along the center of the battery cell stack that constitutes the sub-module, extending in the length direction of the battery cells.

[0010] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional battery pack including a long module, and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A' in Fig. 1.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, the battery pack 10 includes a lower pack frame 11 on which the long module 20 is mounted, an upper pack frame 12 located above the long module 20, and an internal beam 13 that defines the position within the battery pack 10 where the long module 20 is mounted.

[0012] As described above, the long module 20 is made up of at least two battery cell stacks 23 electrically connected together, each of which has a plurality of stacked battery cells 22, and can be housed and positioned in a module frame 21.

[0013] 2, the plurality of battery cells 22 housed in the long module 20 may be positioned in contact with the cooling fins 30 that are in contact with the upper surface (z-axis direction) and lower surface (-z-axis direction) of the module frame 21. Specifically, the plurality of battery cells 22 may be fixedly positioned at the center of the cooling fins 30 and positioned so as to float within the module frame 20 of the battery module at a certain height from the upper surface (z-axis direction) and lower surface (-z-axis direction) of the module frame 21.

[0014] However, in this structure, the battery cells 22 themselves are not adhered and fixed to the module frame 21, and so when an external physical impact is applied, the mechanical structure becomes weak, which can cause problems such as the battery cells 22 separating from the cooling fins 30 and being damaged. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the adhesive strength between the battery cells 22 and the module frame 21 to ensure structural stability, and for this purpose, an adhesive 31 is provided between the bottom of the battery cells 22 (in the -z-axis direction) and the underside of the module frame 21 (in the -z-axis direction).

[0015] In this case, the structural stability of the battery cells 22 can be improved by adhesively fixing the battery cells 22 to the bottom of the module frame 21 with the adhesive 31, but there is a problem in that the cooling performance is reduced because the refrigerant (C) cannot flow in the space where the adhesive 31 is located. In this case, the refrigerant (C) can only flow in the space between the top of the battery cells 22 (z-axis direction) and the upper surface of the module frame 21 (z-axis direction).

[0016] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a battery module and a battery pack that have improved cooling performance while ensuring the structural stability of the battery cells 22. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having improved cooling performance deviation and mechanical reliability, thereby improving safety, and a battery pack including the same.

[0018] However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above problems and can be variously expanded within the scope of the technical ideas included in the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0019] A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes at least one sub-module, each of which includes a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a bus bar assembly including a bus bar electrically connected to the battery cell stack and a bus bar frame covering at least one side of the battery cell stack; a module frame in which the at least one sub-module is housed; and a fixing frame positioned to cover at least one side of the battery cell stack.

[0020] The sub-modules may include a first sub-module and a second sub-module.

[0021] One end of the first sub-module and the other end of the second sub-module are electrically connected to each other.

[0022] The battery cell stack may include an adhesive member located on one surface of the battery cell stack.

[0023] The fixing frame may be positioned on one side of the battery cell stack on which the adhesive member is applied.

[0024] The fixing frame may include a fixing plate covering one side of the battery cell stack, and the fixing plate may include a plurality of fixing holes extending therethrough.

[0025] The fixing holes may be formed elongated in a stacking direction of the battery cells, and may be positioned in a plurality of positions in a length direction of the battery cells.

[0026] The fixing frame may further include a side cover portion that covers a side surface positioned perpendicular to one surface of the battery cell stack, and the side cover portion may be a region that protrudes perpendicularly in a height direction of the battery cell stack along an edge of the fixing plate.

[0027] The adhesive member may be positioned on the battery cell.

[0028] When the first sub-module and the second sub-module are inserted into the module frame, one side of the battery cell stack on which the adhesive member is located may be positioned facing the opposite direction of gravity.

[0029] After the first sub-module and the second sub-module are inserted into the module frame, the module frame is inverted, and the bottom of the module frame and the adhesive member are positioned in the direction of gravity, so that the adhesive member can be fixedly adhered to the bottom of the module frame.

[0030] The adhesive member can move through a fixing hole that penetrates the fixing frame and be fixedly attached to the bottom of the module frame.

[0031] The battery pack may further include a cooling spacer disposed between the battery cells.

[0032] The cooling spacer may include a cooling plate that is a plate extending in the length direction of the battery cell, and a plurality of cooling holes that penetrate the cooling plate.

[0033] The length of the cooling plate may be the same as the length of the battery cell, and the height of the cooling plate may be the same as or greater than the height of the battery cell.

[0034] The module frame includes a sealing assembly that covers both open ends of the module frame, and an end plate that covers the sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes an inlet and an outlet through which a coolant flows into and is discharged from the module frame, and the coolant can come into direct contact with the battery cell stack and other electrical components housed inside the module frame.

[0035] A battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the battery module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0036] According to the embodiment, the deviation in cooling performance of the battery module is improved, and mechanical reliability is enhanced, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery.

[0037] The effects of the present invention are not limited to those mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional battery pack including a long module. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA' in FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 5 with the module frame removed. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a submodule according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB' in FIG. 5. [Figure 10] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 5 with the module frame removed. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. [Figure 12] 11 is a diagram showing the sub-module of FIG. 10 being inserted into a module frame. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC' in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0040] To clearly describe the present invention, portions unnecessary for the explanation will be omitted and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0041] In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. In the drawings, thicknesses are exaggerated to clearly show various layers and regions. In the drawings, thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0042] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other part is said to be "on" or "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" that part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Furthermore, being "on" or "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being located "on" or "above" in the opposite direction of gravity.

[0043] Also, throughout the specification, when a part is said to "comprise" a certain element, this means that it may further include other elements, rather than excluding other elements, unless otherwise specified.

[0044] Also, throughout the specification, "on a plane" means a view of the subject part from above, and "on a cross section" means a view of the subject part cut vertically from the side.

[0045] Furthermore, terms such as "first" and "second" used in this application may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by such terms. Terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0046] Furthermore, in this application, the terms "upper" and "lower" are defined to mean the z-axis direction and the -z-axis direction, respectively, the side direction to mean the y-axis direction and the -y-axis direction, and the front and back direction to mean the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction, respectively; however, these are arbitrary definitions within the specification for the sake of convenience, and the scope of rights is not limited to these names and directions.

[0047] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the battery pack of Fig. 3.

[0048] 3 and 4, a battery pack 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower pack frame 1100 on which a plurality of battery modules 100 are mounted, an upper pack frame 1200 located on top of the battery modules 100, and at least one vent portion 2000 provided on a side of the lower pack frame 1100. Here, the lower pack frame 1100 and the upper pack frame 1200 are joined to each other by a method such as welding, thereby sealing the interior of the battery pack 1000.

[0049] The battery module 100 may include a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked in a predetermined direction, and a module frame 200. The module frame 200 may be a monoframe made of a metal plate with its top and bottom surfaces (z-axis direction and -z-axis direction) and both side surfaces (y-axis direction and -y-axis direction) integrated. The battery cell stack 120 may be mounted inside the module frame 200 to form the battery module 100.

[0050] The lower pack frame 1100 includes a side pack frame 1150 and at least two internal beams 1110 formed on the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 1100. Here, the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 1100 and the at least two internal beams 1110, and the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 1100 and the side pack frame 1150 may be connected to each other by a method such as welding.

[0051] The plurality of battery modules 100 may be mounted in an area defined by the side pack frame 1150 and at least two internal beams 1110. In other words, the plurality of battery modules 100 may be arranged in an area between the side pack frame 1150 and the internal beams 1110, and in an area located between adjacent internal beams 1110. More specifically, in the battery pack 1000, the battery modules 100 may be arranged between a pair of adjacent internal beams 1110 among the plurality of internal beams 1110 and the side pack frame 1150.

[0052] As a result, the plurality of battery modules 100 are surrounded by at least two internal beams 1110 and the side pack frame 1150, and each battery module 100 is protected from external impacts.

[0053] The side pack frame 1150 may be disposed at an edge of the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 1100 and extend upward (in the z-axis direction) from the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 1100. More specifically, it may extend upward from each edge of the bottom surface of the lower pack frame 1100. Here, the upper end of the side pack frame 1150 may contact the upper pack frame 1200. At this time, the upper end of the side pack frame 1150 and the upper pack frame 1200 may be joined to each other by a method such as welding, thereby sealing the interior of the battery pack 1000.

[0054] The internal beams 1110 may be spaced apart from one another. Here, the distance between adjacent internal beams 1110 may be equal to or greater than the size of the battery module 100.

[0055] Additionally, the ends of the internal beam 1110 can contact the inner surface 1151 of the side pack frame 1150. More specifically, both ends of the internal beam 1110 can contact the inner surface 1151 of the side pack frame 1150, respectively.

[0056] The vent section 2000 is formed in one area of ​​the side pack frame 1150 and can exhaust high-temperature gases and flames generated inside the battery pack 1000 to the outside, thereby ensuring the safety of the battery.

[0057] Hereinafter, a battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0058] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of Fig. 5.

[0059] 5 and 6, the battery module 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is formed by electrically connecting conventional battery modules to each other to form a single battery module 100. Specifically, the battery module 100 of this embodiment is formed by electrically connecting one end and the other end of each battery cell stack that constitutes two conventional battery modules.

[0060] The battery module 100 includes a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked, a module frame 200 that houses the battery cell stack 120, side plates 230 that cover both sides of the battery cell stack 120, a fixing frame 240 that covers at least one side of the battery cell stack 120, a bus bar assembly 300 located on the front and / or rear surface of the battery cell stack 120, a sealing assembly 400 that covers the front and / or rear surface of the bus bar assembly 300, and end plates 500 that cover the front and / or rear surface of the sealing assembly 400.

[0061] First, the battery cell 110 may be a pouch-type battery cell. Such a pouch-type battery cell may be formed by housing an electrode assembly in a pouch case made of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer, and then heat-sealing the sealing portion of the pouch case. In this case, the battery cell 110 may be formed in a rectangular sheet structure.

[0062] A plurality of such battery cells 110 may be configured, and the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked so as to be electrically connected to each other to form a battery cell stack 120. In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked along a direction parallel to the y-axis.

[0063] The module frame 200 may be configured to protect the battery cell stack 120 and the electrical components connected thereto from external physical shocks. The module frame 200 can accommodate the battery cell stack 120 and the electrical components connected thereto in its internal space.

[0064] The structure of the module frame 200 may be various. According to the drawing, the structure of the module frame 200 may be a mono-frame structure. The mono-frame may be manufactured by extrusion molding.

[0065] However, the structure of the module frame 200 is not limited thereto, and as another example, the module frame 200 may have a structure in which a U-shaped frame and an upper plate are combined. In this case, the U-shaped frame may be formed by combining or integrating the bottom and both side surfaces of the module frame 200. In this case, each frame or plate constituting the U-shaped frame may be manufactured by press molding. Furthermore, the module frame 200 may have a mono-frame or U-shaped frame structure, or an L-shaped frame structure, or may have various structures not described in the above examples.

[0066] The module frame 200 may be provided in a form that is open along the length direction (x-axis direction) of the battery cell stack 120. In this case, the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120 may not be blocked by the module frame 200. The front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120 are blocked by a bus bar assembly 300, a sealing assembly 400, an end plate 500, or the like, which should protect the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120 from external physical impacts, etc.

[0067] The side plates 230 are plate-shaped members that cover the sides of the electrically connected battery cell stacks 120. The side plates 230 facilitate the insertion of the battery cell stacks 120 into the module frame 200, thereby facilitating the process. The side plates 230 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 7.

[0068] The fixing frame 240 may be positioned while covering at least one surface of the battery cell stack 120. The fixing frame 240 may be positioned while covering the lower surface of the battery cell stack 120, more specifically, the fixing frame 240 may be positioned while covering the lower surface and part of the side surface of the battery cell stack 120.

[0069] The fixing frame 240 is made of a rigid material and can serve to protect the battery cell stack 120 from external physical shocks and to firmly fix and support the battery cell stack 120 within the module frame 200. This will be described in more detail in Figures 7 and 8.

[0070] The busbar assembly 300 includes a busbar frame 310, which will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 7 and 8, and a busbar 330 mounted on one surface of the busbar frame 310. The busbar assembly 300 is located on the open first side (x-axis direction) and second side (-x-axis direction) of the module frame 200, and can be formed to cover the battery cell stack 120. The busbar assembly 300 can electrically connect the battery cells 110 that make up the battery cell stack 120 in series or parallel.

[0071] The sealing assemblies 400 may be located on the open first side (x-axis direction) and second side (-x-axis direction) of the module frame 200 and may be formed to cover the battery cell stack 120. The sealing assembly 400 located on the open first side of the module frame 200 may be a first sealing assembly 410, and the sealing assembly 400 located on the open second side of the module frame 200 may be a second sealing assembly 450.

[0072] The sealing assembly 400 can separate the open first and second sides of the module frame 200 from the external environment. Specifically, when a refrigerant is injected into the module frame 200, the sealing assembly 400 can serve to seal the refrigerant so that it does not leak to the outside.

[0073] Specifically, the sealing assembly 400 may include a sealing cover, and an inlet 421 and outlet 461 through which a refrigerant flows. Specifically, the refrigerant flows into the module frame 200 through the inlet 421 and can then be discharged to the outside of the battery module 100 through the outlet 461. The refrigerant is in direct contact with the battery cell stack 120, other electrical components, and bus bar assembly 300 mounted inside the module frame 200, and can receive heat generated therefrom. That is, the refrigerant can cool the battery module 100 as it moves through the interior of the battery module 100.

[0074] The refrigerant may be a fluid. However, since the refrigerant comes into direct contact with the battery cell stack 120, other electrical components, and the bus bar assembly 300 within the battery module 100, it must be electrically insulated. Therefore, the refrigerant may be an insulating material. For example, the refrigerant may be insulating oil.

[0075] As described above, the refrigerant is in direct contact with the battery cell stacks 120, other electrical components, and bus bar assemblies 300 that generate heat within the battery module 100, and receives heat from them, thereby directly cooling them. Therefore, compared to conventional methods of indirectly cooling battery modules using a heat sink or the like, the cooling efficiency of the battery can be improved, thereby extending the battery life.

[0076] The end plates 500 may be located on the first open side (x-axis direction) and the second open side (-x-axis direction) of the module frame 200 and may be formed to cover the sealing assembly 400. The end plate 500 located on the first open side of the module frame 200 may be a first end plate 510, and the end plate 500 located on the second open side of the module frame 200 may be a second end plate 550.

[0077] Such an end plate 500 can physically protect the battery cell stack 120 and other electrical components from external impacts.

[0078] Each of the sub-modules constituting the battery module 100 of this embodiment will be described in more detail below.

[0079] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the battery module excluding the module frame of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an exploded view of a sub-module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] 7, a battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one sub-module. That is, the present invention does not place any particular limit on the number of sub-modules included in the battery module 100. In one embodiment of the present invention, the battery module 100 may include one sub-module, and in other embodiments, the battery module 100 may include multiple sub-modules.

[0081] For example, the at least one sub-module may include a first sub-module 100a and a second sub-module 100b. Here, the battery module 100 may include the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b electrically connected to each other. Furthermore, the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b may be arranged along the direction in which the electrode leads of the battery cells protrude.

[0082] The first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b may each include a battery cell stack 120a, 120b in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, busbar assemblies 300a, 300b including busbars 330a, 330b electrically connected to the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b and a busbar frame 310a covering at least one side of the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b, and fixing frames 240a, 240b covering at least one surface of the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b.

[0083] Since the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b each include the same components, the components included in the submodules 100a and 100b will be specifically described, focusing on the first submodule 100a.

[0084] Referring to FIG. 8, the first submodule 100a includes a first battery cell stack 120a in which a plurality of battery cells 110a are stacked, a first bus bar assembly 300a covering the front (x-axis direction) and back (-x-axis direction) of the first battery cell stack 120a, a first printed circuit board (PCB) 350a electrically connected to the first bus bar assembly 300a, and a first fixing frame 240a covering at least one side of the first battery cell stack 120a.

[0085] The first battery cell stack 120a is formed by stacking a plurality of first battery cells 110a. The first battery cell stack 120a includes a first compression pad 250a provided on one side of the first outermost battery cell 110a. The first battery cell stack 120a also includes first cooling fins 210a located between the plurality of first battery cells 110a and between the first battery cell 110a and the first compression pad 250a.

[0086] The first cooling fins 210a may be positioned between the plurality of first battery cells 110a. For example, the first cooling fins 210a may be positioned between two first battery cells 110a. Specifically, one first cooling fin 210a and another first cooling fin 210a adjacent to it may be positioned with two first battery cells 110a between them. Alternatively, the first cooling fins 210a may be positioned between the outermost first battery cell 110a and the first compression pad 250a.

[0087] In this case, the first cooling fin 210a may include a first plate 211a in contact with one side of the first battery cell 110a. Here, the one side of the first battery cell 110a may be one side of the battery cell 110 extending along the length direction (x-axis direction) of the first battery cell 110a. One side of the first plate 211a may be in contact with one side of the first battery cell 110a facing the one side of the first plate 211a.

[0088] The other side of the first plate 211a may contact one side of another adjacent first battery cell 110a facing the other side of the first plate 211a or one side of the first compression pad 250a. In this case, although not shown in the drawings, an adhesive may be interposed between one side of the first battery cell 110a and the first plate 211a or between one side of the first compression pad 250a and the first plate 211a, thereby adhesively fixing the first battery cell 110a and the first plate 211a. For example, the adhesive may be insulating tape.

[0089] The upper portion (z-axis direction) of the first plate 211a can contact the upper surface (z-axis direction) of the module frame 200 in Fig. 5, and the lower portion (-z-axis direction) of the first plate 211a can contact the lower surface (-z-axis direction) of the module frame 200 in Fig. 5. Therefore, the first cooling fin 210a can be fixedly positioned within the module frame 200, and therefore the first battery cell 110a attached to the first cooling fin 210a can also be fixedly positioned within the module frame 200.

[0090] The size of the first plate 211a may be larger than the size of the first battery cell 110a. Specifically, referring to FIG. 9, the height (z-axis direction) of the first plate 211a may be larger than the height of the first battery cell 110a. In this case, the first battery cell 110a may be attached to the first plate 211a and positioned so as to float inside the module frame 200 without contacting the module frame 200. Specifically, the upper and lower portions of the first battery cell 110a may be positioned at a certain height from the upper and lower portions of the module frame 200. More specifically, if the height (z-axis direction) of the first plate 211a is higher than the height (z-axis direction) of the first battery cell 110a, the first battery cell 110a may be adhesively fixed to the center of the first plate 211a.

[0091] 8, the first cooling fin 210a may further include a first plate 211a and protrusions 213a and 213b protruding from ends of the first plate 211a. Specifically, the protrusions 213a and 213b may include a first protrusion 213a protruding from one end of the first plate 211a and a second protrusion 213b protruding from the other end of the first plate 211a.

[0092] The first protrusion 213a and the second protrusion 213b may be configured to protrude perpendicular to the first plate 211a, thereby allowing the first cooling fin 210a to have a U-shape.

[0093] In this case, the first protrusion 213a may contact the upper surface (z-axis direction) of the module frame 200 in FIG. 5, and the second protrusion 213b may contact the lower surface (-z-axis direction) of the module frame 200 in FIG. 5. Specifically, one surface of the first protrusion 213a may contact the upper surface of the module frame 200 in FIG. 5, and the other surface of the first protrusion 213a may be positioned facing the upper part of the first battery cell 110a. The other surface of the second protrusion 213b may contact the lower surface (-z-axis direction) of the module frame 200 in FIG. 5, and one surface of the second protrusion 213b may be positioned facing the lower part of the first battery cell 110a. This allows the first cooling fin 210a to be more firmly fixed and positioned within the module frame 200.

[0094] However, the shape of the first cooling fins 210a is not limited to that shown in the drawings, and may be a flat plate shape or an L-shape with protrusions located only at one end or the other end of the first plate 211a. In other words, the first cooling fins 210a may have any shape as long as they can contact and fix the first battery cells 110a.

[0095] The first cooling fins 210a may be made of metal, specifically, metal with high thermal conductivity.

[0096] The first cooling fins 210a can directly receive heat generated in the first battery cell 110a during battery charging and discharging. When heat is generated, the heat is primarily cooled as it is transferred to the first cooling fins 210a that contact the side of the first battery cell 110a, and secondarily cooled as the refrigerant directly contacts the top and bottom of the first battery cell 110a. This allows direct cooling not only of the side areas of the battery cell but also of the top and bottom areas of the battery cell, which have traditionally been relatively difficult to cool, thereby improving battery cooling efficiency.

[0097] The first compression pad 250a may be located at the outermost side of the first battery cell stack 120a. The first compression pad 250a may absorb swelling of the first battery cell 110a caused by charging and discharging. Specifically, the first compression pad 250a may push out the side surfaces (y-axis and -y-axis directions) of the module frame 200 shown in FIG. 5 as the first battery cell 110a swells, thereby preventing the battery case of the first battery cell 110a from cracking and improving battery safety.

[0098] However, the first compression pad 250a is not limited to being positioned only on the outermost side of the first battery cell stack 120a, but may also be positioned between the first battery cells 110a that make up the first battery cell stack 120a.

[0099] The first bus bar assembly 300a includes a first bus bar frame 310a and a first bus bar 330a attached to the first bus bar frame 310a.

[0100] The first bus bar frame 310a may be located on one surface of the first battery cell stack 120a to cover that surface and guide the connection between the first battery cell stack 120a and an external device. The first bus bar frame 310a may be located on the front (x-axis direction) and rear (negative x-axis direction) surfaces of the first battery cell stack 120a. A first bus bar 330a may be attached to the first bus bar frame 310a. Specifically, the inner surface of the first bus bar frame 310a is connected to the front (x-axis direction) and rear (negative x-axis direction) surfaces of the first battery cell stack 120a, and the outer surface of the first bus bar frame 310a is connected to the first bus bar 330a.

[0101] The first bus bar frame 310a may include an electrically insulating material, which may limit contact between the first bus bar 330a and other parts of the first battery cell 110a other than the part connected to the electrode lead (not shown), thereby preventing an electrical short circuit.

[0102] The first bus bar 330a may be attached to one surface of the first bus bar frame 310a and may be used to electrically connect the first battery cell stack 120a or the first battery cell 110a to an external device circuit. The first bus bar 330a is located on the first bus bar frame 310a, and the first bus bar assembly 300a is covered by the sealing assembly 400 and end plate 500 shown in FIG. 5, so that the first bus bar 330a can be protected from external impacts and the like, and a decrease in durability due to external moisture, etc. can be minimized.

[0103] The first bus bar 330a is electrically connected to the first battery cell stack 120a via the electrode leads of the first battery cells 110a. Specifically, the electrode leads of the first battery cells 110a pass through slits formed in the first bus bar frame 310a, then bend and connect to the first bus bar 330a. The first battery cells 110a constituting the first battery cell stack 120a are connected in series or parallel by the first bus bar 330a.

[0104] The first printed circuit board 350a extends in the length direction of the first battery cell stack 120a and is attached to one side of the first battery cell stack 120a to sense the first battery cell 110a. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first printed circuit board 350a may be positioned in contact with a battery cell located in the center of the first battery cell stack 120a among the battery cells constituting the first battery cell stack 120a. The first printed circuit board 350a is attached to the upper surface (z-axis direction) of the first battery cell stack 120a to sense electrical and thermal data of the first battery cell 110a. The first printed circuit board 350a is also bent from an end of the first battery cell stack 120a toward the first bus bar frame 310a and electrically connected to the first bus bar 330a.

[0105] In this case, the first cooling fins 210a cannot be provided on the first battery cell 110a to which the first printed circuit board 350a is attached. If the first cooling fins 210a were provided on the first battery cell 110a, the first cooling fins 210a would overlap the first printed circuit board 350a. Therefore, a cooling spacer 280a can be provided in place of the first cooling fins 210a in the area where the first printed circuit board 350a is located, as will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9.

[0106] The first fixing frame 240a may be provided on the other surface of the first battery cell stack 120a opposite to the surface of the first battery cell stack 120a on which the first printed circuit board 350a is mounted.

[0107] The first fixing frame 240a includes a first fixing plate 241a that covers the other side, which is at least one side of the first battery cell stack 120a, and a first side cover portion 242a that covers a portion of the side that is positioned perpendicular to the other side, which is at least one side of the first battery cell stack 120a.

[0108] According to this drawing, the first fixing frame 240a includes a first fixing plate 241a that covers the lower surface of the first battery cell stack 120a, and a first side cover part 242a that covers part of the side surface of the first battery cell stack 120a. Hereinafter, for convenience, at least one surface of the first battery cell stack 120a that contacts the first fixing plate 241a will be referred to as the lower surface of the first battery cell stack 120a.

[0109] The first fixing plate 241a has a size corresponding to the size of the underside of the first battery cell stack 120a and can cover the underside of the first battery cell stack 120a. Specifically, the size of the first fixing plate 241a may be the same as or larger than the size of the underside of the first battery cell stack 120a. In this case, the size of the first fixing plate 241a and the size of the underside of the first battery cell stack 120a may have an error range of about 10%.

[0110] The first fixing plate 241a may include a plurality of first fixing holes 245a penetrating the first fixing plate 241a. Specifically, the first fixing plate 241a includes the first fixing holes 245a formed elongated in the stacking direction of the first battery cells 110a, and the first fixing holes 245a may be formed and positioned in the length direction of the first battery cells 110a. The first fixing holes 245a may be oval.

[0111] The first fixing holes 245a may accommodate excess adhesive between the first fixing plate 241a and the first battery cell stack 120a. This allows the module frame, the first fixing frame 240a, and the first battery cell stack 120a to be connected with a single adhesive, improving the adhesive strength and structural stability between them. More details will be described with reference to FIG. 9 and subsequent figures.

[0112] The first side cover portion 242a may be a region that protrudes perpendicularly in the height direction of the first battery cell stack 120a along the edge of the first fixing plate 241a. The first side cover portion 242a may be positioned to surround the side of the first battery cell stack 120a and may be positioned while being combined with the side plate 230 (see FIG. 10). Therefore, the first fixing frame 240a, the first battery cell stack 120a, and the side plate 230 may all be more firmly fixed and positioned, thereby improving mechanical stability.

[0113] The first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b having the above-described configuration are electrically connected to each other to form one battery module 100.

[0114] One battery module 100 may include a side plate 230, which is a plate-like member that covers the side surfaces of the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b.

[0115] 7, the side plate 230 may be a plate extending along the length direction (x-axis direction) of the battery module 100. Specifically, the length of the side plate 230 may correspond to the length of the battery module 100. Furthermore, the length of the side plate 230 may correspond to the sum of the lengths of the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b. Here, the term "corresponding in length" means that the length is the same as the length of the battery module or the same value within an error range of about 10%.

[0116] The side plate 230 may be positioned opposite the first outermost battery cell 110a of the first sub-module 100a and the second outermost battery cell 110b of the second sub-module 100b that constitute the battery module 100. Alternatively, the side plate 230 may be positioned opposite the first compression pad 250a of the first sub-module 100a and the second compression pad 250b of the second sub-module 100b that constitute the battery module 100.

[0117] The side plates 230 may be made of a rigid metal and serve to protect the outermost battery cells 110a, 110b and compression pads 250a, 250b of the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b when the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b are inserted and mounted in the module frame 200.

[0118] Furthermore, the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b constituting the battery module 100 of this embodiment are electrically connected to typical battery cell stacks inserted into conventional battery modules, and are longer in overall length than typical battery cell stacks, which can make it difficult to insert them into the module frame 200 for assembly. In this case, the side plate 230 guides the battery cell stacks 120 constituting the battery module 100 of this embodiment when they are inserted into the module frame 200, allowing for easy assembly of the battery module without damaging the battery cells 110 and compression pads 250a, 250b.

[0119] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB' in Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the battery module excluding the module frame in Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of Fig. 10.

[0120] 9, a battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes cooling fins 210 and cooling spacers 280 disposed between a plurality of battery cells 110. The cooling fins 210 have the same configuration as the first cooling fins 210a described in FIG. 8, and therefore, further description thereof will be omitted.

[0121] The cooling spacer 280 may be positioned between the battery cells 110 located in the center of the battery cell stack 120. Specifically, the cooling spacer 280 may be positioned in an area corresponding to an area where the printed circuit board 350 is located. In this case, the cooling spacer 280 may be positioned between the battery cells 110 in contact with the printed circuit board 350 and receive heat generated from the battery cells 110 to cool them.

[0122] The cooling spacer 280 may include a cooling plate 281 that is a plate extending in the length direction (x-axis direction) of the battery cell 110 and a plurality of cooling holes 282 that penetrate the cooling plate 281 .

[0123] The cooling plate 281 may be a plate that contacts one side of a battery cell 110 located in the center of the battery cell stack 120. Specifically, one side of the cooling plate 281 may contact one side of the battery cell 110 that faces the one side of the cooling plate 281. The other side of the cooling plate 281 may contact one side of the battery cell 110 that faces the other side of the cooling plate 281. In this case, although not shown in the drawings, an adhesive may be interposed between one side of the battery cell 110 and one side of the cooling plate 281, and between the other side of the adjacent battery cell 110 and the cooling plate 281, thereby adhesively fixing the battery cell 110 to the cooling plate 281. For example, the adhesive member may be an insulating tape.

[0124] The cooling plate 281 may have a size corresponding to the size of the battery cell 110. Specifically, the area of ​​the cooling plate 281 may correspond to the area of ​​one side of the battery cell 110. More specifically, the length of the cooling plate 281 may be the same as the length of the battery cell 110, and the height of the cooling plate 281 may be the same as or greater than the height of the battery cell 110. When the height of the cooling plate 281 is greater than the height of the battery cell 110, the battery cell 110 may be attached on the cooling plate 281 and positioned so as to float inside the module frame 200 without contacting the module frame 200.

[0125] The cooling hole 282 may be a hole that passes through the cooling plate 281 in the length direction (x-axis direction) of the cooling plate 281. The cooling hole 282 may be a plurality of holes that are spaced apart in the height direction (z-axis direction) of the cooling plate 281.

[0126] A coolant can move between the cooling holes 282. In this case, the coolant moves in response to heat generated from the battery cells 110, thereby effectively cooling the battery cells 110 located in the center of the battery cell stack 120. Therefore, compared to a conventional battery module without a cooling spacer 280, the battery cooling efficiency is improved and the cooling deviation between the battery cells 110 can be reduced.

[0127] The cooling spacer 280 may be made of metal. Specifically, the cooling spacer 280 may be a metal with high thermal conductivity. Therefore, the cooling spacer 280 can directly receive heat generated in the battery cells 110 due to charging and discharging of the battery, and the battery cells 110 in the area where the printed circuit board 350 is located can be placed in a state with improved cooling performance like the other battery cells 110, thereby reducing temperature deviation within the battery module.

[0128] 9 to 11, a refrigerant (C) flows in the spaces between the upper and lower parts of the module frame 200 and the upper and lower parts of the battery cell stack 120 to absorb heat generated from the battery cells 110, and an adhesive member 800 is positioned in one space of the battery cell stack 120 to fix the module frame 200 and the battery cell stack 120. Specifically, the adhesive member 800 may be positioned on the other side of the battery cell stack 120 that faces one side of the battery cell stack 120 on which the printed circuit board 350 is positioned. More specifically, the adhesive member 800 may be positioned on the battery cells 110 that are positioned in contact with the printed circuit board 350, and also in contact with one end of the cooling spacer 280.

[0129] Therefore, even if the cooling spacer 280 and the battery cell 110 in contact with it are positioned so as to float within the module frame 200, the adhesive member 800 can serve to fix and adhere them to the module frame 200, thereby improving adhesive strength and structural stability.

[0130] The adhesive member 800 may be made of resin. For example, the adhesive member 800 may be made of resin. When the adhesive member 800 comes into contact with other components, it hardens and bonds with the other components, thereby fixing and supporting them.

[0131] Specifically, the adhesive member 800 is a dispensing type and may be applied along the center of the battery cell stack 120 and then cured to form the battery cell stack. The adhesive member 800 may be positioned at the lower part of the battery cell stack 120 along the length direction (x-axis direction) of the battery cell stack 120. Specifically, the adhesive member 800 may be positioned in contact with the other end of the battery cell 110 that contacts the printed circuit board 350. More specifically, the adhesive member 800 may be positioned in contact with the lower part of the battery cell 110 that contacts the cooling spacer 280.

[0132] The adhesive member 800 can be applied to the battery cell stack 120 in an inverted state. That is, the adhesive member 800 can be applied to the other surface of the battery cell stack 120 with the other surface of the battery cell stack 120 placed in the direction opposite to gravity. Then, the fixing frame 240 can be placed on the lower surface of the battery cell stack 120.

[0133] In other words, the adhesive member 800 is positioned on the other side of the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b that constitute the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b, and the fixing frame 240 can be positioned covering the other side of the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b to which the adhesive member 800 is applied.

[0134] In this case, if the fixing frame 240 is positioned with excess adhesive material 800 applied to the battery cell stacks 120a, 120b, the adhesive material 800 may partially overflow through the fixing holes 245. Specifically, when the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b of FIGS. 10 and 11 are inserted and positioned in the module frame 200, the adhesive material 800 partially overflows through the fixing holes 245 and comes into contact with the module frame 200. This allows the battery cell stack 120, the fixing frame 240, and the module frame 200 to be adhesively fixed at the same time. That is, due to this structure, the adhesive material 800 is positioned in contact with the battery cell stack 120, the fixing frame 240, and the module frame 200 at the same time, and is positioned with a larger surface area within the battery module 100, allowing them to be more firmly fixed within the module frame 200.

[0135] Therefore, even if an external impact is applied to the battery module 100, the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b will not separate from the module frame or fall off, thereby improving the safety and mechanical reliability of the battery.

[0136] Furthermore, because the adhesive member 800 is applied only to the center of the battery cell stack 120, even if excess adhesive member 800 flows out through the fixing holes 245 of the fixing frame 240 and contacts the module frame 200, only a portion of the module frame 200 exposed by the fixing holes 245 can be in contact with the adhesive member 800. Therefore, even if the adhesive member 800 is located on the battery cell stack 120, unlike the conventional battery module 10 of FIG. 2, a space is secured between the battery cell stack 120 and the module frame 200, facilitating the movement of the coolant (C). That is, the battery module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can ensure stronger bonding strength and mechanical stability between the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b and the module frame 200 than conventional battery modules. Furthermore, by securing a flow path that allows the coolant (C) to move in areas where the adhesive member 800 does not contact the module frame 200, the cooling efficiency of the battery can be improved and the cooling deviation between the battery cells can be reduced.

[0137] Fig. 12 is a view showing the sub-module of Fig. 10 being inserted into a module frame, and Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC' of Fig. 12.

[0138] Referring to FIG. 12, the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b can be mounted in the module frame 200 by being inserted in an inverted state.

[0139] Specifically, an adhesive member 800 is applied to one surface (-z axis direction) of the battery cell stack constituting the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b of the present invention along the center in the length direction of the battery cells, and a fixing frame 240 is positioned below the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b, respectively, and such first submodule 100a and second submodule 100b can be inserted into a module frame 200. In this case, the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b can be inserted into the module frame 200 in the first direction (D1) in an inverted state to prevent the adhesive member 800 from running off.

[0140] That is, when the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b are inserted into the module frame 200, the surfaces of the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b on which the adhesive member 800 is applied may be positioned facing the module frame 200. Specifically, the surfaces of the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b on which the adhesive member 800 is applied may be positioned facing the bottom 201 of the module frame 200. That is, in this case, the surfaces on which the adhesive member 800 is applied and the bottom 201 of the module frame 200 may all be positioned facing in the opposite direction to gravity.

[0141] 13, after the first sub-module 100a and the second sub-module 100b are inserted into the module frame 200, the battery module 100 of FIG. 12 can be inverted to allow the adhesive member 800 to be more firmly attached to the bottom 201. That is, after the sub-modules 100a and 100b to which the adhesive member 800 has been applied are inserted into the module frame 200, the sub-modules can be inverted to allow the adhesive member 800 to flow down, thereby allowing the battery cell stack to be more firmly attached to the bottom 201. At this time, the bottom 201 of the module frame 200 and the adhesive member 800 may be positioned in the direction of gravity.

[0142] Specifically, in the battery module 100 of Fig. 13, the adhesive members 800 move in the direction of gravity toward the bottom 201. In this case, the area of ​​the adhesive members 800 in contact with the bottom 201 may be increased in the state of Fig. 13 compared to the state of Fig. 12. More specifically, the adhesive members 800 may move in the direction of gravity through the fixing holes 245 and be positioned in contact with the bottom 201 of the module frame 200.

[0143] At this time, the adhesive member 800 is positioned only at the center of the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b, and therefore the adhesive member 800 may be partially positioned only in an area corresponding to the fixing hole 245 in the center of the bottom 201 of the module frame 200. Therefore, since the adhesive member 800 is not positioned over the entire area of ​​the bottom 201 of the module frame 200, it is possible to ensure the fixing force between the first submodule 100a and the second submodule 100b and the module frame 200, and at the same time, to ensure a path for the coolant to move.

[0144] In other words, the adhesive member 800 simultaneously contacts the battery cell stack, the fixing frame 240, and the module frame 200, thereby increasing the fixing force between them. This allows the sub-modules 100a, 100b to be more firmly fixed to the module frame 200, reducing the risk of them being damaged, such as being separated due to external impact, thereby improving battery safety. In addition, the sub-modules do not move within the module frame 200, preventing damage to the battery cells and other electrical components.

[0145] That is, this reinforces the mechanical structure of the battery module 100, thereby improving the mechanical reliability of the battery. In particular, when an external impact is applied to the battery module 100, the area of ​​the structure adhesively fixed between the module frame 200 and the sub-module is secured, improving the fixing force, thereby improving the structural stability.

[0146] Furthermore, by ensuring a path for the refrigerant (C) to move through the spaces between the upper and lower parts of the battery cell stack and the upper and lower parts of the module frame, the fixing force for the submodules 100a, 100b within the module frame 200 is ensured, and at the same time, a path for the refrigerant (C) to flow is also ensured, thereby ensuring cooling performance.

[0147] The battery module and the battery pack including the same can be applied to various devices, including transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric cars, and hybrid cars, but the present invention is not limited thereto and can be applied to various devices that can use the battery module and the battery pack including the same, which also fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0148] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the following claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0149] 100 Battery Module 100a First submodule 100b Second submodule 110 battery cells 120 Battery cell stack 200 Module Frame 240 fixed frame 245 fixed holes 280 Cooling Spacer 281 Cooling Plate 282 Cooling Hall 300 Busbar assembly 800 adhesive materials

Claims

1. at least one sub-module each including a battery cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, and a bus bar assembly including a bus bar electrically connected to the battery cell stack and a bus bar frame covering at least one side of the battery cell stack; a module frame in which at least one of the sub-modules is housed; a battery module including a fixing frame positioned to cover at least one surface of the battery cell stack;

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the sub-modules include a first sub-module and a second sub-module.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein one end of the first sub-module and the other end of the second sub-module are electrically connected to each other.

4. The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive member located on one surface of the battery cell stack.

5. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the fixing frame is located on one surface of the battery cell stack on which the adhesive material is applied.

6. the fixing frame includes a fixing plate that covers one surface of the battery cell stack; The battery module of claim 5 , wherein the fixing plate includes a plurality of fixing holes extending therethrough.

7. The battery module according to claim 6 , wherein the fixing holes are formed elongated in a stacking direction of the battery cells, and a plurality of fixing holes are positioned in the length direction of the battery cells.

8. the fixing frame further includes a side cover portion that covers a side surface that is positioned perpendicular to one surface of the battery cell stack, The battery module according to claim 6 , wherein the side cover portion is a region that protrudes perpendicularly to the height direction of the battery cell stack along an edge of the fixing plate.

9. The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the adhesive member is located on the battery cell.

10. 3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein when the first sub-module and the second sub-module are inserted into the module frame, one side of the battery cell stack on which the adhesive member is located faces in a direction opposite to gravity.

11. After the first sub-module and the second sub-module are inserted into the module frame, the module frame is inverted, and the bottom of the module frame and the adhesive member are positioned in the direction of gravity; The battery module according to claim 10 , wherein the adhesive member is fixedly adhered to a bottom of the module frame.

12. The battery module of claim 11 , wherein the adhesive member is fixedly attached to a bottom of the module frame by moving through a fixing hole that penetrates the fixing frame.

13. The battery module according to claim 4 , further comprising a cooling spacer provided between the battery cells.

14. The cooling spacer is a cooling plate that is a plate extending in the length direction of the battery cell; The battery module of claim 13 , comprising a plurality of cooling holes extending through the cooling plate.

15. The length of the cooling plate is the same as the length of the battery cell; The battery module according to claim 14 , wherein the height of the cooling plate is equal to or greater than the height of the battery cells.

16. a sealing assembly covering both open ends of the module frame; and an end plate covering the sealing assembly; the sealing assembly includes an inlet and an outlet through which a coolant flows into and out of the module frame; The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the coolant is in direct contact with the battery cell stack and other electrical components housed inside the module frame.

17. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 1.

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