Battery assembly and battery pack including same

Abstract

The technical idea of ​​the present invention provides a battery assembly including: a first cell block including a plurality of first battery cells; a second cell block including a plurality of second battery cells and spaced apart from the first cell block; and a thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block and thermally coupling a first electrode lead of the first cell block and a second electrode lead of the second cell block.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery assembly and a battery pack including the same.

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0119622, filed on September 8, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Unlike primary batteries, secondary batteries can be charged and discharged multiple times. Secondary batteries are widely used as the energy source for various wireless devices such as handsets, laptops, and wireless vacuum cleaners. In recent years, improvements in energy density and economies of scale have dramatically reduced the manufacturing cost per unit capacity of secondary batteries, and as the driving range of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has increased to the same level as fuel-powered vehicles, the primary use of secondary batteries has shifted from mobile devices to mobility. As secondary batteries are used in mobility, research is underway to develop technologies to increase the energy density of secondary batteries. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The technical problem that the present invention aims to achieve is to provide a battery assembly and a battery pack including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the technical idea of ​​the present invention provides a battery assembly including: a first cell block including a plurality of first battery cells; a second cell block including a plurality of second battery cells and spaced apart from the first cell block; and a thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block and thermally coupling a first electrode lead of the first cell block and a second electrode lead of the second cell block.

[0006] In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally conductive block is in direct contact with the first electrode lead of the first cell block and the second electrode lead of the second cell block.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, the cell block further includes a first bus bar coupled to the first electrode lead of the first cell block and a second bus bar coupled to the second electrode lead of the second cell block, and the thermally conductive block is in direct contact with the first bus bar and the second bus bar.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally conductive block further includes a first bus bar frame to which the first bus bar is attached, a second bus bar frame to which the second bus bar is attached, and a frame that provides an internal space to be filled with the thermally conductive block and is coupled to at least one of the first bus bar frame and the second bus bar frame.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the frame includes two side panels spaced apart with the internal space therebetween, and the two side panels extend from the first bus bar frame to the second bus bar frame.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the battery pack further includes a case that houses the first cell block and the second cell block.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the case includes a first cover plate covering a first surface of the first cell block and a first surface of the second cell block, the first cover plate including a cooling channel, and the thermally conductive block being in contact with the first cover plate.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the case includes a side cover plate that covers a side surface of the first cell block and a side surface of the second cell block, and the side cover plate includes a fastening flange configured to be fastened to an external support structure.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the battery pack further includes an inter-block bus bar extending between the first cell block and the second cell block and electrically connecting the first cell block to the second cell block.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the device further includes an additional thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block, thermally coupling between another first electrode lead of the first cell block and another second electrode lead of the second cell block, and the additional thermally conductive block is spaced apart from the thermally conductive block.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the first cell block and the second cell block are spaced apart in a first direction, the plurality of first battery cells in the first cell block are stacked in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the plurality of second battery cells in the second cell block are stacked in the second direction.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally conductive block is characterized by including a thermal interface material.

[0017] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the technical idea of ​​the present invention provides a battery pack including a pack housing and a battery assembly accommodated in the pack housing, wherein the battery assembly includes a first cell block including a plurality of first battery cells, a second cell block including a plurality of second battery cells and spaced apart from the first cell block, a thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block and thermally coupling between a first electrode lead of the first cell block and a second electrode lead of the second cell block, and a case accommodating the first cell block and the second cell block.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the case is characterized by including a first cover plate covering a first surface of the first cell block and a first surface of the second cell block and including a cooling channel; a side cover plate covering a side surface of the first cell block and a side surface of the second cell block and including a fastening flange that is fastened to a support structure provided on a bottom plate of the pack housing; and a second cover plate covering a second surface of the first cell block opposite the first surface and a second surface of the second cell block opposite the first surface.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment, the case is spaced apart from the bottom plate of the pack housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each battery assembly includes a cell block having a plurality of battery cells, thereby achieving increased energy density and larger modules.

[0021] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode lead of the first cell block and the second electrode lead of the second cell block, which face each other, and / or the first bus bar and the second bus bar, which face each other, are thermally coupled by a thermally conductive block, thereby strengthening the thermal coupling between the cell blocks, thereby reducing the temperature deviation between the cell blocks and improving the efficiency of the thermal performance management and temperature deviation management for the cell blocks.

[0022] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a thermally conductive block capable of functioning as a heat diffusion member is attached to the electrode leads and / or bus bars of the cell block, thereby suppressing the phenomenon of heat buildup in the electrode leads and / or bus bars of the cell block while achieving fast charging conditions according to customer requirements.

[0023] The effects that can be obtained from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly derived and understood from the following description by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure belong. In other words, unintended effects accompanying the implementation of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure can also be derived from the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure by a person having ordinary skill in the art. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a battery assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an area indicated by "EX1" in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is an enlarged view showing the inter-block bus bars of FIG. 2 without illustration. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly taken along line AA-AA' in FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a thermally conductive block of the battery assembly of FIG. 1. [Figure 6]2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly taken along line BB-BB' in FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electric vehicle equipped with a battery pack according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before that, it should be noted that the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that are consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to best describe his / her own invention.

[0026] Therefore, 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 the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0027] Furthermore, in the description of the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of related publicly known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted.

[0028] The embodiments of the present invention are provided to more completely explain the present invention to those skilled in the art, and therefore the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown in a schematic manner for clearer explanation. Therefore, the sizes and proportions of each component do not completely reflect the actual sizes and proportions.

[0029] (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a portion of a battery assembly 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an area indicated by "EX1" in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing an inter-block bus bar 170 in FIG. 2 without illustrating it. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly 100 taken along line AA-AA' in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a thermally conductive block 191 of the battery assembly 100 in FIG. 1.

[0030] 1 to 5, the battery assembly 100 may include a first cell block 110 and a second cell block 140 arranged in a first direction (e.g., the Y direction). The first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 may be spaced apart in the first direction (e.g., the Y direction). Although FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the battery assembly 100 as including two cell blocks, the number of cell blocks included in the battery assembly 100 is not limited thereto. For example, the battery assembly 100 may include two or more cell blocks arranged in the first direction (e.g., the Y direction).

[0031] The first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 each include a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell is the basic unit of a lithium-ion battery, i.e., a secondary battery. Each battery cell includes an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a cell case. The electrode assembly housed in the cell case may include a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The electrode assembly may be either a jelly roll type or a stack type depending on the assembly form. A jelly roll type electrode assembly may include a wound structure of a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed therebetween. A stack type electrode assembly may include a plurality of sequentially stacked positive electrodes, a plurality of negative electrodes, and a plurality of separators interposed therebetween. The positive electrode may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material. The negative electrode may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material.

[0032] In each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the plurality of battery cells may be connected in series and / or parallel. As an example, in each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the plurality of battery cells may be connected in series. As an example, in each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the plurality of battery cells may be connected in parallel. As an example, in each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, when a set of two or more battery cells connected in parallel to each other is defined as a bank, one bank consisting of two or more battery cells connected in parallel to each other may be connected in series to another bank consisting of two or more battery cells connected in parallel to each other.

[0033] In each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the individual battery cells may be pouch-type battery cells, cylindrical battery cells, or prismatic battery cells. The electrode assembly of a pouch-type battery cell is housed in a pouch case including an aluminum laminate sheet. The electrode assembly of a cylindrical battery cell is housed in a cylindrical metal can. The electrode assembly of a prismatic battery cell is housed in a prismatic metal can.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, each battery cell may correspond to a pouch-type battery cell. In each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the plurality of battery cells may be stacked on top of each other in the second direction (e.g., the X direction). In an exemplary embodiment, in each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the plurality of battery cells may correspond to a pouch-type battery cell whose length along the second direction (e.g., the X direction) is shorter than its length along the first direction (e.g., the Y direction).

[0035] In the present disclosure, the battery cells included in the first cell block 110 may be referred to as first battery cells 111. The first battery cell 111 may include a first electrode assembly, a first cell case that houses the first electrode assembly, and a first electrode lead 113 electrically connected to the first electrode assembly. The first cell case may include a first case body having an accommodating space that houses the first electrode assembly, and a first cell terrace portion 119 located around the periphery of the first case body. The first cell terrace portion 119 is an outer periphery of the first cell case and may extend from the first case body. The first cell terrace portion 119 may include a sealing joint for sealing the first electrode assembly. A portion of the first electrode lead 113 may protrude from the first cell terrace portion 119. Each first battery cell 111 may include a pair of first electrode leads 113. In each first battery cell 111, one of the pair of first electrode leads 113 may protrude outward from a first cell terrace portion 119 at one end of the first cell case along a first direction (e.g., Y direction), and the other may protrude outward from a first cell terrace portion 119 at the other end of the first cell case along the first direction (e.g., Y direction). A first surplus space 114 may be provided between the first cell terrace portions 119 of two adjacent first cell blocks 110 among the plurality of first cell blocks 110.

[0036] In the present disclosure, the battery cells included in the second cell block 140 may be referred to as second battery cells 141. The second battery cell 141 may include a second electrode assembly, a second cell case that houses the second electrode assembly, and a second electrode lead 143 electrically connected to the second electrode assembly. The second cell case may include a second case body having an accommodation space that houses the second electrode assembly, and a second cell terrace portion 149 located around the periphery of the second case body. The second cell terrace portion 149 is an outer periphery of the second cell case and may extend from the second case body. The second cell terrace portion 149 may include a sealing joint for sealing the second electrode assembly. A portion of the second electrode lead 143 may protrude from the second cell terrace portion 149. Each second battery cell 141 may include a pair of second electrode leads 143. In each second battery cell 141, one of the pair of second electrode leads 143 may protrude outward from a second cell terrace portion 149 at one end of the second cell case along a first direction (e.g., the Y direction), and the other may protrude outward from a second cell terrace portion 149 at the other end of the second cell case along the first direction (e.g., the Y direction). A second surplus space 144 may be provided between the second cell terrace portions 149 of two adjacent second cell blocks 140 among the plurality of second cell blocks 140.

[0037] In a plan view, the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 may each have a rectangular shape with a length along a second direction (e.g., the X direction) that is shorter than a length along a first direction (e.g., the Y direction). The first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 may each have two side surfaces opposite each other in the second direction (e.g., the X direction), a front surface and a rear surface opposite each other in the first direction (e.g., the Y direction), and a first surface (e.g., a top surface) and a second surface (e.g., a bottom surface) opposite each other in a third direction (e.g., the Z direction). The rear surface of the first cell block 110 may face the front surface of the second cell block 140.

[0038] A first busbar frame 120 having a first busbar 130 mounted thereon may be disposed on each of the front and rear surfaces of the first cell block 110. The first busbar 130 may include a first inter-busbar and a first terminal busbar 131. The first inter-busbar may be coupled to the first electrode leads 113 of different first battery cells 111 belonging to the first cell block 110 to electrically connect the different first battery cells 111 to each other. The first terminal busbar 131 may be coupled to at least one of the first electrode leads 113 protruding from the first cell terrace portion 119 of the first battery cell 111. The first terminal busbar 131 may electrically connect the first cell block 110 to the second cell block 140 or another external electrical device. The first busbar frame 120 on the front side of the first cell block 110 may be mounted with one or more first inter-busbars and one or more first terminal busbars 131, and the first busbar frame 120 on the rear side of the first cell block 110 may be mounted with one or more first inter-busbars and one or more first terminal busbars 131.

[0039] A second busbar frame 150 having a busbar mounted thereon may be disposed on each of the front and rear surfaces of the second cell block 140. The second busbar 160 may include a second inter-busbar and a second terminal busbar 161. The second inter-busbar may be coupled to the second electrode leads 143 of different second battery cells 141 belonging to the second cell block 140 to electrically connect the different second battery cells 141 to each other. The second terminal busbar 161 may be coupled to at least one of the second electrode leads 143 protruding from the second cell terrace portion 149 of the second battery cell 141. The second terminal busbar 161 may electrically connect the second cell block 140 to the first cell block 110 or another external electrical device. The second busbar frame 150 on the front side of the second cell block 140 may be mounted with one or more second inter-busbars and one or more second terminal busbars 161, and the second busbar frame 150 on the rear side of the second cell block 140 may be mounted with one or more second inter-busbars and one or more second terminal busbars 161.

[0040] The battery assembly 100 may include a thermally conductive block 191 disposed in a space provided between the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140. The thermally conductive block 191 is a thermal conductor and an electrical non-conductor. In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally conductive block 191 may be formed from a thermal interface material (TIM) and / or a thermally conductive resin. The thermally conductive block 191 may extend between the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 and thermally couple the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140. The battery assembly 100 may include one or more thermally conductive blocks 191. In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of thermally conductive blocks 191 spaced apart from each other along a second direction (e.g., the X direction) may be disposed in the space provided between the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140.

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally conductive block 191 can be in direct contact with the first electrode lead 113 of the first cell block 110 and the second electrode lead 143 of the second cell block 140, and can thermally couple between the first electrode lead 113 of the first cell block 110 and the second electrode lead 143 of the second cell block 140.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally conductive block 191 may be in direct contact with the first bus bar 130 and the second bus bar 160 and may thermally couple between the first bus bar 130 and the second bus bar 160. The thermally conductive block 191 may be coupled to the first inter-bus bar or the first terminal bus bar 131. The thermally conductive block 191 may be coupled to the second inter-bus bar or the second terminal bus bar 161.

[0043] The battery assembly 100 may include a frame 193 that houses a thermally conductive block 191. The thermally conductive block 191 may at least partially fill an interior space provided by the frame 193. The frame 193 may include two side panels that are spaced apart in a second direction (e.g., the X direction) with an interior space in which the thermally conductive block 191 is housed therebetween. In a plan view, the two side panels of the frame 193 may each extend in a first direction (e.g., the Y direction) between the first bus bar frame 120 and the second bus bar frame 150. The frame 193 may be coupled to at least one of the first bus bar frame 120 and the second bus bar frame 150. In an exemplary embodiment, the frame 193 may be a part of the first bus bar frame 120 or the second bus bar frame 150 and may have the same material composition as the first bus bar frame 120 or the second bus bar frame 150.

[0044] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first electrode lead 113 of the first cell block 110 and the second electrode lead 143 of the second cell block 140, which face each other, and / or the first bus bar 130 and the second bus bar 160, which face each other, are thermally coupled by the thermally conductive block 191, thereby strengthening the thermal coupling between the cell blocks. This reduces the temperature deviation between the cell blocks, thereby improving the efficiency of thermal performance management and temperature deviation management for the cell blocks.

[0045] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a thermally conductive block 191 capable of functioning as a heat diffusion member is attached to the electrode leads and / or bus bars of the cell block, thereby suppressing the phenomenon of heat buildup in the electrode leads and / or bus bars of the cell block while achieving fast charging conditions according to customer requirements.

[0046] The battery assembly 100 may include an inter-block bus bar 170 configured to electrically connect the first cell block 110 to the second cell block 140. The inter-block bus bar 170 may extend across a space provided between the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 and may extend in a first direction (e.g., a Y direction) from a first terminal bus bar 131 provided on a rear surface of the first cell block 110 to a second terminal bus bar 161 provided on a front surface of the second cell block 140. The inter-block bus bar 170 may be coupled to each of the first terminal bus bar 131 and the second terminal bus bar 161 and may electrically connect the first terminal bus bar 131 to the second terminal bus bar 161. The inter-block bus bar 170 may be fastened to the first terminal bus bar 131 via a first bolt 181 and to the second terminal bus bar 161 via a second bolt 183. The inter-block bus bar 170 may include a first end portion fastened to a first fastening head of the first terminal bus bar 131, a second end portion fastened to a second fastening head of the second terminal bus bar 161, and a connecting portion extending between the first and second ends. The connecting portion of the inter-block bus bar 170 may include a bent portion to absorb external impact.

[0047] The first bolt 181 is inserted into a hole in the first end of the inter-block bus bar 170 and a hole in the first terminal bus bar 131, and the first bolt 181 is fitted into a nut, thereby tightly fitting the first end of the inter-block bus bar 170 to the first terminal bus bar 131. The first end of the inter-block bus bar 170 and a first fastening head of the first terminal bus bar 131 may be accommodated in a first clearance space 114 provided between the first cell terrace portions 119 of two adjacent first cell blocks 110. The first bus bar frame 120 has a first recess 121 located in the first clearance space 114 provided between the first cell terrace portions 119 of two adjacent first cell blocks 110, and the first recess 121 of the first bus bar frame 120 may accommodate and support the first end of the inter-block bus bar 170 and the first fastening head of the first terminal bus bar 131.

[0048] The second bolts 183 are inserted into holes in the second end of the inter-block busbar 170 and holes in the second terminal busbar 161, and the second bolts 183 are fitted into nuts, thereby tightly fitting the second end of the inter-block busbar 170 to the second terminal busbar 161. The second end of the inter-block busbar 170 and the second fastening head of the second terminal busbar 161 can be accommodated in a second clearance space 144 provided between the second cell terrace portions 149 of two adjacent second cell blocks 140. The second busbar frame 150 has a second recess 151 located in the second clearance space 144 provided between the second cell terrace portions 149 of two adjacent second cell blocks 140, and the second recess 151 of the second busbar frame 150 can accommodate and support the second end of the inter-block busbar 170 and the second fastening head of the second terminal busbar 161.

[0049] In an exemplary embodiment, the fastening portion between the inter-block bus bar 170 and the first terminal bus bar 131 and the fastening portion between the inter-block bus bar 170 and the second terminal bus bar 161 may be aligned in a first direction (e.g., the Y direction) that is the arrangement direction of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140. In this case, the first bolt 181 fastened to the first fastening head of the first terminal bus bar 131 and the second bolt 183 fastened to the second fastening head of the second terminal bus bar 161 may be aligned in the first direction (e.g., the Y direction). In addition, in a plan view, the inter-block bus bar 170 may extend linearly along the second direction (e.g., the X direction). When the fastening portion between the inter-block busbar 170 and the first terminal busbar 131 of the first cell block 110 and the fastening portion between the inter-block busbar 170 and the second terminal busbar 161 of the second cell block 140 are aligned in a first direction (e.g., the Y direction), which is the arrangement direction of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140, the risk of loosening of the first bolt 181 and / or the second bolt 183 due to relative movement between the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 can be reduced, and the reliability of the electrical connection between the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 can be improved.

[0050] The battery assembly 100 may include a case 201 that houses the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 and is fastened to and supported by an external pack housing (see 501 in FIG. 7 ). The case 201 may include a first cover plate 211, two side cover plates 213, and a second cover plate 215. The first cover plate 211 may be referred to as an upper cover plate, and the second cover plate 215 may be referred to as a lower cover plate.

[0051] The first cover plate 211 may cover a first surface of the first cell block 110 and a first surface of the second cell block 140. The first cover plate 211 may be attached to the first surface of the first cell block 110 and the first surface of the second cell block 140 and may be thermally coupled to the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140. The first cover plate 211 may be attached to each of the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 via a thermally conductive adhesive layer. For example, the thermally conductive adhesive layer may include a TIM.

[0052] The first cover plate 211 may have cooling channels 2111 configured to allow a cooling fluid to flow therethrough and may be configured to cool the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140. The first cover plate 211 may be referred to as a cooling plate. The first cover plate 211 may be thermally coupled to the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 via a thermally conductive adhesive layer and configured to cool the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140. A cooling fluid provided from outside the battery assembly 100 flows into the cooling channel 2111 through an inlet of the cooling channel 2111 via a pipe 220, flows along the cooling channel 2111, and the cooling fluid discharged through an outlet of the cooling channel 2111 may be discharged to the outside via another pipe 220. For example, the cooling channel 2111 may provide a single path extending from its inlet to its outlet. While the cooling fluid flows along the cooling channel 2111, cooling of the battery assembly 100 may be performed. For example, the first cover plate 211 may be fabricated by joining two plates together, and the cooling channel 2111 may comprise a space defined between the two plates.

[0053] The second cover plate 215 may cover the second surface of the first cell block 110 and the second surface of the second cell block 140. The second cover plate 215 may be spaced apart from the first cover plate 211 in a third direction (e.g., the Z direction) with the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 interposed therebetween. The second cover plate 215 may include venting holes for exhausting high-temperature gas originating from the first cell block 110 and / or the second cell block 140 to spaces below the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140.

[0054] The two side cover plates 213 may be spaced apart from each other in a second direction (e.g., the X direction) with the first cell block 110 and the second cell block 140 interposed therebetween. One of the two side cover plates 213 may cover a first side surface of the first cell block 110 and a first side surface of the second cell block 140 and be coupled to the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 215. The other of the two side cover plates 213 may cover a second side surface of the first cell block 110 and a second side surface of the second cell block 140 and be coupled to the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 215. Each side cover plate 213 may include a plurality of fastening flanges 2131 that are fastened to and supported by an external pack housing (see 501 in FIG. 7 ).

[0055] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the battery assembly 100 includes cell blocks (e.g., a first cell block 110 and a second cell block 140) each having a plurality of battery cells, thereby achieving increased energy density and larger modules.

[0056] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the battery assembly 100 taken along line BB-BB' in FIG.

[0057] 6 together with FIGS. 1 to 5, the thermally conductive block 191 may extend in a third direction (e.g., the Z direction) between the first cover plate 211 and the second cover plate 215 of the case 201. The thermally conductive block 191 may be coupled to the first cover plate 211 having the cooling channels 2111. In this case, the thermally conductive block 191 may provide a thermally conductive path between the first cell block 110 and the first cover plate 211, and may provide a thermally conductive path between the second cell block 140 and the second cover plate 215. More specifically, the first electrode lead 113 and / or the first bus bar 130 of the first cell block 110 may be thermally coupled to the first cover plate 211 via the thermally conductive block 191, and the second electrode lead 143 and / or the second bus bar 160 of the second cell block 140 may be thermally coupled to the first cover plate 211 via the thermally conductive block 191. Since the electrode leads and / or bus bars of the cell block can be cooled by thermal conduction, thermal damage to the electrode leads and / or bus bars of the cell block can be prevented.

[0058] (Second embodiment) 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a battery pack 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the following, descriptions that overlap with those described above will be omitted or simplified.

[0059] 7, the battery pack 500 may include a pack housing 501 and a battery assembly 100 mounted in the pack housing 501. The battery pack 500 may include one or more battery assemblies 100 mounted in the pack housing 501.

[0060] The pack housing 501 may include a lower housing 510 having an accommodation space for accommodating the battery assembly 100, and a pack lid 520 coupled to the lower housing 510 to cover the lower housing 510 accommodating the battery assembly 100. The accommodation space of the lower housing 510 may be defined by a bottom plate 511 facing the lower surface of the battery assembly 100 and side walls 513 positioned on the edges of the bottom plate 511. A plurality of support structures 515 for supporting the battery assembly 100 may be provided on the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510. The plurality of support structures 515 may be spaced apart from each other in a second direction (e.g., the X direction), and each of the plurality of support structures 515 may extend in a first direction (e.g., the Y direction). The length of each support structure 515 along the first direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be the same as or longer than the length of the battery assembly 100 along the first direction (e.g., the Y direction).

[0061] The battery assembly 100 may be mounted in the pack housing 501 by a side mounting method. A plurality of support structures 515 extending in a first direction (e.g., Y direction) may be provided on the bottom plate of the pack housing 501, and the battery assembly 100 may be fastened to the plurality of support structures 515 by fastening members such as bolts BT. More specifically, the fastening flanges 2131 of the side cover plates 213 may be fastened to corresponding support structures 515 among the plurality of support structures 515 by bolts BT, thereby mounting the battery assembly 100 to the pack housing 501.

[0062] When the battery pack 500 is mounted on a vehicle, a cabin room where passengers board may be located above the pack lid 520, and the ground on which the vehicle runs may be located below the lower housing 510.

[0063] The battery assembly 100 may be supported by a support structure 515 provided on the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 in a side-mounting manner, and a free volume FV may be provided between the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 and the battery assembly 100, with the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 and the battery assembly 100 spaced apart in a third direction (e.g., Z direction). Gas and flames generated in a thermal runaway situation may be transported through the free volume FV. That is, the free volume FV serves as a venting passage through which high-temperature gas and flames may be transported.

[0064] In addition, even when a strong impact occurs due to foreign objects being thrown onto the underside of the vehicle while driving on hard ground such as an unpaved road, the impact can be absorbed via the free volume FV. Therefore, the battery assembly 100 can be prevented from being damaged by the impact. The free volume FV may include an empty space between the battery assembly 100 and the lower housing 510. When the lower housing 510 deforms toward the battery assembly 100 due to an impact applied to the underside of the vehicle, the free volume FV can freely accommodate the deformation of the lower housing 510 to a certain extent.

[0065] The height of the free volume FV and the distance between the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 and the battery assembly 100 may be set sufficiently to absorb external impacts. The height of the free volume FV may be determined in consideration of the dimensions and rigidity of the vehicle frame, the dimensions and rigidity of the lower housing 510, the dimensions of the battery pack 500, the amount of gas generated and the rate of gas discharge during thermal runaway, and the like. For example, when the thickness or rigidity of the vehicle frame or the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 is relatively large, at least one of the size and height of the free volume FV may be relatively small. Furthermore, when the thickness or rigidity of the vehicle frame or the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 is relatively small, there is a high possibility of deformation of the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510. Therefore, to protect the battery assembly 100, at least one of the size and height of the free volume FV may be relatively increased. Furthermore, when the size of the battery pack 500 is relatively large according to the specifications of the battery pack 500, a relatively large free volume FV may be ensured. When the size of the battery pack 500 is relatively small, the height of the free volume FV that can be secured may be relatively low, and the thickness and rigidity of the bottom plate 511 of the lower housing 510 may need to be relatively increased. Also, if the height of the free volume FV is too low, the gas discharge path becomes small, and the internal pressure of the battery pack 500 may increase rapidly during thermal runaway. Therefore, the size and height of the free volume FV can be determined taking into account the amount of gas generated and the discharge speed.

[0066] The maximum height of the free volume FV may be determined depending on the damage tolerance of the battery cell 111 included in the battery assembly 100. For example, if the damage tolerance of the battery cell 111 is 1 mm, the free volume FV may be determined so that the battery cell 111 does not deform more than 1 mm when the lower housing 510 deforms and presses the lower surface of the battery cell 111. In this case, the amount of deformation of the lower housing 510 may vary depending on the thickness and rigidity of the lower housing 510. Therefore, the size and height of the free volume FV may be determined in consideration of both the damage tolerance of the battery cell 111 and the thickness and rigidity of the lower housing 510.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the upper surface of the battery assembly 100 may be tightly attached to the lower surface of the pack lid 520. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery assembly 100 may be supported by being suspended from the pack lid 520. If there is a space between the battery assembly 100 and the pack lid 520, high-temperature gas may be introduced into the space between one battery assembly 100 and the pack lid 520 during thermal runaway, causing heat and flame to propagate to other adjacent battery assemblies 100. The heat and flame may also be transmitted to the pack lid 520, potentially affecting the cabin room above the pack lid 520. Therefore, by tightly attaching the upper surface of the battery assembly 100 to the lower surface of the pack lid 520, gas and flame generated inside the battery pack 500 can be guided to the free volume FV.

[0068] (Third embodiment) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electric vehicle 1000 equipped with a battery pack 1100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0069] 8, for simplicity of illustration, only the vehicle body frame 1200 forming the lower skeleton of the vehicle, the battery pack 1100 coupled to the vehicle body frame 1200, and tires are shown. The battery pack 1100 may include the battery pack 500 described with reference to FIG.

[0070] In a typical battery pack, a battery module is installed at the bottom of the pack housing of the battery pack. In an embodiment, a free volume (see FV in FIG. 7) may be provided below the battery assembly 100 of the battery pack 1100, and there may be no or very little space between the battery assembly 100 and the pack lid 520. This prevents gas generated in the battery assembly 100 from being transferred to the cabin at the top of the vehicle, and the gas is guided to the free volume FV provided in the battery assembly 100 and the pack housing 501 of the battery pack 1100. The gas flows through the free volume FV and can be discharged to the underside of the vehicle through a gas exhaust unit installed in the battery pack 1100. In addition, according to this embodiment, since the free volume FV is provided between the battery assembly 100 and the pack housing 501 in the battery pack 1100, damage to the battery assembly 100 can be prevented even if the pack housing 501 is deformed.

[0071] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the battery pack 1100 and the electric vehicle 1000 equipped with the same can enhance passenger safety, protect the battery assembly 100, which is a core component, and improve the durability of the battery pack 1100 and the electric vehicle 1000.

[0072] The present invention has been described in more detail above with reference to the drawings and embodiments, etc. However, the configurations shown in the drawings or embodiments in this specification are merely one embodiment of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore, at the time of filing this application, there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 100 Battery assembly 110 Cell Block 1 111 First battery cell 113 First electrode lead 114 First margin space 119 First cell terrace part 120 First bus bar frame 121 First recess 130 First bus bar 131 First terminal bus bar 140 Second cell block 141 Second battery cell 143 Second electrode lead 144 Second margin space 149 Second cell terrace part 150 Second bus bar frame 151 Second recess 160 Second bus bar 161 Second terminal bus bar 170 Inter-block bus bar 181 First bolt 183 Second bolt 191 Heat-conductive block 193 Frame 201 Case 211 First cover plate 213 Side cover plate 215 Second cover plate 220 Pipe 500 Battery pack 501 Pack housing 510 Lower housing 511 Bottom plate 513 Side wall 515 Support structure 520 Pack lid 1000 Electric vehicle 1100 Battery pack 1200 Vehicle body frame 2111 Cooling channel 2131 Fastening flange

Claims

1. a first cell block including a plurality of first battery cells; a second cell block including a plurality of second battery cells and spaced apart from the first cell block; a thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block, thermally coupling a first electrode lead of the first cell block and a second electrode lead of the second cell block; a battery assembly including:

2. 2. The battery assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive block is in direct contact with the first electrode lead of the first cell block and the second electrode lead of the second cell block.

3. a first bus bar coupled to the first electrode lead of the first cell block; a second bus bar coupled to the second electrode lead of the second cell block; further comprising The battery assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive block is in direct contact with the first bus bar and the second bus bar.

4. a first bus bar frame to which the first bus bar is attached; a second bus bar frame to which the second bus bar is attached; a frame that provides an interior space filled with the thermally conductive block and is coupled to at least one of the first bus bar frame and the second bus bar frame; The battery assembly of claim 3 further comprising:

5. The frame includes two side panels spaced apart with the interior space therebetween; The battery assembly of claim 4 , wherein the two side plates extend from the first bus bar frame to the second bus bar frame.

6. The battery assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a case that houses the first cell block and the second cell block.

7. the case includes a first cover plate covering a first surface of the first cell block and a first surface of the second cell block; the first cover plate includes cooling channels; The battery assembly of claim 6 , wherein the thermally conductive block is in contact with the first cover plate.

8. the case includes a side cover plate covering a side surface of the first cell block and a side surface of the second cell block; The battery assembly of claim 6 , wherein the side cover plates include fastening flanges configured to be fastened to an external support structure.

9. an inter-block bus bar extending between the first cell block and the second cell block and electrically connecting the first cell block to the second cell block; The battery assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

10. further including an additional thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block, thermally coupling between another first electrode lead of the first cell block and another second electrode lead of the second cell block; 2. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the additional thermally conductive block is spaced apart from the thermally conductive block.

11. The first cell block and the second cell block are spaced apart in a first direction, In the first cell block, the plurality of first battery cells are stacked in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; The battery assembly according to claim 1 , wherein in the second cell block, the plurality of second battery cells are stacked in the second direction.

12. 10. The battery assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive block comprises a thermal interface material.

13. A pack housing; a battery assembly housed in the pack housing; Including, The battery assembly includes: a first cell block including a plurality of first battery cells; a second cell block including a plurality of second battery cells and spaced apart from the first cell block; a thermally conductive block disposed between the first cell block and the second cell block, thermally coupling a first electrode lead of the first cell block and a second electrode lead of the second cell block; a case that houses the first cell block and the second cell block; Including the battery pack.

14. The case is a first cover plate covering a first surface of the first cell block and a first surface of the second cell block and including a cooling channel; a side cover plate covering a side surface of the first cell block and a side surface of the second cell block, the side cover plate including a fastening flange fastened to a support structure provided on a bottom plate of the pack housing; a second cover plate covering a second surface of the first cell block opposite to the first surface and a second surface of the second cell block opposite to the first surface; 14. The battery pack of claim 13, comprising:

15. The battery pack of claim 14 , wherein the case is spaced from a bottom plate of the pack housing.

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