Battery module with enhanced safety

Abstract

Provided are a battery module having an improved structure to improve safety when a thermal event occurs inside the battery module, and a battery pack and a vehicle including the battery module.SOLUTION: The present disclosure discloses a battery module having an improved structure to improve safety when a thermal event occurs inside the battery module. A battery module according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of battery cells stacked in at least one direction, a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells in an inner space thereof, and a blocking member interposed between adjacent battery cells, the blocking member including a heat transfer preventing portion configured to prevent heat transfer between the adjacent battery cells, and a flame transfer preventing portion provided inside the heat transfer preventing portion and configured to block a flame between the adjacent battery cells.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0040406 filed on March 31, 2022, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0029081 filed on March 6, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in their specifications and drawings.

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

[0003] As demand for portable electronic products such as smartphones, tablet PCs, and smartwatches has increased significantly and electric vehicles have become more popular, research into the batteries used in these products, particularly secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged, has been actively conducted.

[0004] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, lithium secondary batteries are attracting attention due to their advantages of being able to be freely charged and discharged since they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, as well as their extremely low self-discharge rate and high energy density.

[0005] Lithium secondary batteries primarily use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as the positive and negative electrode active materials, respectively, and include an electrode assembly in which a separator is sandwiched between positive and negative electrode plates coated with the positive and negative electrode active materials, and an exterior material, such as a battery case, that encloses the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.

[0006] Generally, lithium secondary batteries can be broadly classified into can-type secondary batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a metal can, and pouch-type secondary batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch made of an aluminum laminate sheet, depending on the shape of the exterior material.

[0007] Recently, secondary batteries have been widely used for driving and storing energy not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium- to large-sized devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS). A battery module can be formed by electrically connecting a plurality of such secondary batteries and housing them together inside a module case. A battery pack can be formed by connecting a plurality of such battery modules.

[0008] However, when multiple secondary batteries (battery cells) or multiple battery modules are densely packed in a small space, there is concern that they may be vulnerable to thermal events. In particular, if an event such as thermal runaway occurs in a battery cell, high-temperature gases, flames, and heat may be generated. If such gases, flames, and heat are transmitted to other battery cells in the same battery module, an explosive chain reaction such as thermal propagation may occur. Furthermore, such a chain reaction may not only cause accidents such as fires and explosions in the battery module itself, but also fires and explosions in other battery modules.

[0009] Furthermore, in the case of medium- to large-sized battery modules or battery packs, such as those used in electric vehicles, the risk of thermal chain reactions may be even greater because a large number of battery cells are included to increase output and / or capacity. Furthermore, in the case of battery packs installed in electric vehicles, users such as the driver may be present nearby. Therefore, if a thermal event occurring in a specific battery module is not properly controlled and a chain reaction occurs, it may cause significant damage to property and even loss of life. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a battery module having an improved structure that can increase safety when a thermal event occurs inside the battery module, a battery pack including the same, and a vehicle.

[0011] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention described below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells stacked in at least one direction; a module case that houses the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; and a blocking member interposed between adjacent battery cells, the blocking member including: a heat transfer prevention portion configured to prevent heat transfer between the adjacent battery cells; and a flame transfer prevention portion provided inside the heat transfer prevention portion and configured to block flames between the adjacent battery cells.

[0013] Here, the heat transfer prevention portion may be made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the flame transfer prevention portion.

[0014] The flame transfer prevention portion may be made of a material having a higher melting point than the heat transfer prevention portion.

[0015] Furthermore, the blocking member may be configured such that, when the heat transfer prevention portion melts, the flame transfer prevention portion is exposed toward the battery cell.

[0016] Furthermore, the blocking member may be configured in a sheet shape.

[0017] Furthermore, the blocking member may be configured in such a manner that the flame transfer prevention sheet is interposed inside the heat transfer prevention sheet.

[0018] Furthermore, the blocking member may be configured to be able to absorb swelling of the battery cell.

[0019] Furthermore, the heat transfer prevention portion may be formed so that the thickness of the central portion is greater than the thickness of the end portions.

[0020] Furthermore, the flame transfer prevention portion may have a concave groove formed in the center portion.

[0021] Furthermore, the flame transfer prevention part may be configured in a form in which at least one side of a groove formed in a central part is open to the outside.

[0022] Furthermore, each of the plurality of battery cells is a pouch-type secondary battery having a storage portion and a sealing portion, and the flame transfer prevention portion may be formed between the plurality of battery cells so that the thickness of the portion facing the sealing portion is thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the storage portion.

[0023] Furthermore, a plurality of the blocking members may be arranged along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells, and at least two of the plurality of blocking members may be configured to have different compression rates.

[0024] Furthermore, the plurality of battery cells may include two or more cell banks connected in series, and the interrupting member may be interposed between different cell banks.

[0025] In order to achieve the above object, a battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes a battery module according to the present invention.

[0026] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle includes a battery module according to the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to the present invention, when a thermal event occurs inside a battery module, the event can be effectively controlled.

[0028] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, when gas, fire, heat, etc. occurs in a specific battery cell within a battery module, the transmission of gas and / or heat to other battery cells included in the battery module can be blocked.

[0029] Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a large amount of heat is generated due to the occurrence of a thermal event, heat transfer between cells can be blocked, and when a thermal event intensifies and a flame occurs, flame transfer between cells can be blocked.

[0030] That is, in the present invention, event control such as heat shutdown and flame shutdown can be performed appropriately and sequentially depending on the severity of the thermal event.

[0031] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, by dividing the areas between cells or cell groups within a battery module, it is possible to prevent an explosive chain reaction from occurring even if a thermal event occurs in a particular battery cell.

[0032] Furthermore, according to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a fire or explosion in a battery module or to delay the occurrence of such a fire or explosion. In particular, delaying the occurrence of a fire or explosion in a battery module can ensure sufficient time for battery users, such as vehicle drivers, to evacuate, thereby reducing personal injury.

[0033] In addition to these, the present invention can have various other effects, which will be explained in the sections for each embodiment, and explanations of effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0034] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention to be described later, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0035] [Figure 1] 1 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A1-A1′ in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A2-A2′ in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a blocking member according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A3-A3′ in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A4-A4′ in FIG. 5. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of a portion of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the configuration of FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a portion of a blocking member according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a flame transfer prevention portion provided in a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a flame transfer prevention portion provided in a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a flame transfer prevention portion provided in a blocking member according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A4-A4′ in FIG. 18. [Figure 20] 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a partial configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a partial configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] 22A and 22B are enlarged views of different configurations of blocking members included in the battery module of FIG. 21. [Figure 23] 22A and 22B are enlarged views of different configurations of blocking members included in the battery module of FIG. 21. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module of FIG. 24. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventors themselves can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best explain the invention.

[0037] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor at the time of this application.

[0038] Fig. 1 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A1-A1' in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A2-A2' in Fig. 1.

[0039] 1 to 4, a battery module according to the present invention includes a battery cell 100, a module case 200, and a blocking member 300. As shown in FIG.

[0040] A plurality of the battery cells 100 may be included in a battery module. Each battery cell 100 may represent a secondary battery. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly (including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator), an electrolyte, and a battery case. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other. For example, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be electrically connected to each other in series and / or parallel via bus bars or the like.

[0041] A plurality of battery cells 100 may be included in a battery module in a stacked form. That is, the battery cells 100 according to the present invention may constitute a cell stack (cell assembly) stacked in at least one direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction).

[0042] The module case 200 may be configured to have an empty space formed therein and to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100 in the empty space. For example, the module case 200 may include an upper plate 210, a lower plate 220, a left plate 230, a right plate 240, a front plate 250, and a rear plate 260 to define the empty space. A cell stack may be positioned in the defined empty space. Here, the module case 200 may be made of metal and / or plastic material.

[0043] Furthermore, at least some of the plate-like members constituting the module case 200 may be integrated with one another. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , the module case 200 may include a U-frame-shaped body in which a lower plate 220, a left plate 230, and a right plate 240 are integrated with one another, and an upper plate 210, a front plate 250, and a rear plate 260 are configured to cover or seal the upper, front, and rear of the body. Various fastening methods, such as welding, adhesive bonding, bolting, and hooks, may be used to fasten the upper plate 210, the front plate 250, and the rear plate 260 to the body. Alternatively, the module case 200 may be configured as a monoframe in which the upper plate 210, the lower plate 220, the left plate 230, and the right plate 240 are integrated with one another. However, the present invention is not limited to a specific material or shape of the module case 200.

[0044] The blocking member 300 may be interposed between adjacent battery cells 100. For example, the blocking member 300 may be interposed between at least some of the battery cells 100 stacked in the left-right direction. Furthermore, a plurality of the blocking members 300 may be provided and spaced apart from each other in the stacking direction of the battery cells 100. The blocking members 300 may also be interposed between different battery cells 100. As a more specific example, one blocking member 300 may be arranged for every three or four battery cells 100. In this case, it can be said that three or four battery cells 100 are located between two adjacent but spaced apart blocking members 300. The blocking member 300 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

[0045] Fig. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken along lines A3-A3' and A4-A4' in Fig. 5.

[0046] 5 to 7, the blocking member 300 includes a heat transfer prevention part 310 and a flame transfer prevention part 320. As shown in FIG.

[0047] Here, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured to prevent heat transfer between the battery cells 100. That is, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be interposed between different battery cells 100 and configured to prevent or suppress heat generated from one battery cell 100 from being transferred to the opposite battery cell 100.

[0048] The flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be provided inside the heat transfer prevention unit 310. For example, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be disposed to cover all or part of the outer surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. That is, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be configured to be embedded inside the heat transfer prevention unit 310. The flame transfer prevention unit 320 may also be configured to block the transfer of flame between the battery cells 100. That is, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be configured to prevent or suppress the transfer of a flame generated from one battery cell 100 to the opposite battery cell 100. The heat transfer prevention unit 310 is configured to block heat between the cells, while the flame transfer prevention unit 320 is configured to block flame between the cells. The heat transfer prevention unit 310 and the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be made of different materials.

[0049] The terms heat transfer prevention unit 310 and flame transfer prevention unit 320 are used for the convenience of distinction or explanation, and are not necessarily limited to these terms. From this perspective, heat transfer prevention unit 310 and flame transfer prevention unit 320 can be replaced with the terms first prevention unit and second prevention unit, respectively.

[0050] The heat transfer prevention unit 310 and the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be connected by various fastening methods such as coating, adhesion, welding, bolting, etc. For example, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured in a form in which it is coated on all or part of the outer surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. Alternatively, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured in a form in which it is adhered to the outer surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 with an adhesive.

[0051] According to this configuration of the present invention, when a thermal event occurs inside a battery module, the thermal event can be effectively suppressed. In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, when a thermal runaway occurs in a specific battery cell 100 among the multiple battery cells 100 included in the battery module, the propagation of the thermal runaway to the other battery cells 100 can be prevented or reduced. Furthermore, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 100, heat and flames may occur together. According to the above-described embodiment, not only heat transfer but also flame transfer between the battery cells 100 can be prevented. In particular, according to one embodiment of the present invention, even if the flame transfer prevention portion 320 in the blocking member 300 has high thermal conductivity, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 is present outside the flame transfer prevention portion 320, and therefore the heat transfer between the cells can be suppressed by the heat transfer prevention portion 310.

[0052] Preferably, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the flame transfer prevention portion 320. In particular, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be made of a heat insulating material to prevent or reduce heat transfer between adjacent battery cells 100. For example, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be made of silicone, polyurethane, or a similar material. In addition, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may employ various heat insulating materials known at the time of filing of the present invention.

[0053] According to this embodiment, the blocking member 300 can more effectively prevent heat transfer between cells. Furthermore, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 100, a large amount of heat may be generated initially, but according to the above embodiment, the transfer of such generated heat to other battery cells 100 can be suppressed or reduced. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the weight of the blocking member 300 can be reduced, thereby facilitating weight reduction of the entire battery module.

[0054] Furthermore, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be made of a material having a higher melting point than the heat transfer prevention unit 310. In particular, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be made of a flame-resistant, flame-retardant, or heat-resistant material to prevent or reduce flame transmission between adjacent battery cells 100. For example, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may include a metal material such as stainless steel (SUS). Alternatively, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may include at least one of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Alternatively, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be made of a metal material such as aluminum, or an alloy containing such a metal material.

[0055] This embodiment can achieve effective fire protection. This configuration can also be advantageous in improving the structural strength of the protection member and reducing the manufacturing cost and weight of the battery module. Additionally, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can be made of various fire protection materials, such as ceramic materials, that are known at the time of filing of the present invention.

[0056] According to this embodiment of the present invention, when a thermal event such as thermal runaway intensifies and a fire breaks out, the flame propagation between cells can be prevented, thereby suppressing or slowing the spread of fire to the entire battery module due to the flame propagation between the battery cells 100.

[0057] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can be made of a material with higher structural rigidity than the heat transfer prevention unit 310, thereby further improving the mechanical strength of the blocking member 300. This also ensures stable insulation performance of the heat transfer prevention unit 310. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, even if a flame breaks out inside the battery module and the heat transfer prevention unit 310 melts and disappears, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can stably maintain the shape of the blocking member 300. Therefore, structural collapse of the battery module in the event of a fire can be suppressed.

[0058] Furthermore, the blocking member 300 may be configured such that the flame transfer prevention portion 320 is exposed to the battery cell 100 when the heat transfer prevention portion 310 melts. That is, the blocking member 300 may be configured such that the flame transfer prevention portion 320 does not directly face the battery cell 100 when the heat transfer prevention portion 310 is not melted. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be configured to enclose the left and right surfaces of the flame transfer prevention portion 320. Therefore, in the presence of the heat transfer prevention portion 310, the left and right surfaces of the flame transfer prevention portion 320 may not be exposed to the left and right battery cells 100. However, if a flame, high-temperature gas, or the like is generated and heat having a temperature higher than the melting point of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 is applied to the blocking member 300, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may melt. In this case, the heat transfer prevention part 310 may melt or disappear, and the surface of the flame transfer prevention part 320, for example, the left surface and / or the right surface in Fig. 6, may be exposed to the outside. Therefore, the flame transfer prevention part 320 is interposed between the two battery cells 100 located on the left and right sides of the blocking member 300, and such flame transfer prevention part 320 can block the propagation of flame between the two battery cells 100.

[0059] According to this embodiment of the present invention, in the blocking member 300, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be located closer to the battery cells 100 than the flame transfer prevention portion 320. Therefore, even if the flame transfer prevention portion 320 has high thermal conductivity, heat transfer between the battery cells 100 can be blocked first due to the heat transfer prevention portion 310 having low thermal conductivity.

[0060] Furthermore, the blocking member 300 may be configured such that the entire exterior of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 is surrounded by the heat transfer prevention unit 310. That is, the blocking member 300 may be configured such that the heat transfer prevention unit 310 surrounds the entire surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. For example, referring to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may surround the left side, right side, top, bottom, front end, and rear end of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. In this case, the heat emitted from the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be blocked by the heat transfer prevention unit 310 before it reaches the flame transfer prevention unit 320. Therefore, the insulating performance of the blocking member 300 against the heat emitted from the battery cell 100 may be more stably ensured before the heat transfer prevention unit 310 melts or disappears.

[0061] The blocking member 300 may also be configured in a sheet-like shape. Here, the term "sheet" may be replaced with terms such as "plate" or "pad." For example, the blocking member 300 may be configured in a sheet-like shape having two wide surfaces, as shown in FIG. 5 . In such a configuration of the blocking member 300, the two wide surfaces may be arranged to face the battery cells 100. That is, the blocking member 300 may be interposed between two battery cells 100, and when the blocking member 300 is configured in a sheet-like shape, the two wide surfaces may be arranged to face different battery cells 100. For example, referring to the embodiment of FIG. 3 , the blocking member 300 may have two wide surfaces, a left surface and a right surface, and the left surface may face the battery cell 100 located on the left side, and the right surface may face the battery cell 100 located on the right side.

[0062] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the sheet-shaped blocking member 300 can more easily be configured to interpose the blocking member 300 between the battery cells 100. In addition, in this case, it is possible to prevent the blocking member 300 from significantly increasing the volume of the battery module.

[0063] In addition, the blocking member 300 may be configured in a form in which a flame transfer prevention sheet is interposed inside a heat transfer prevention sheet. In particular, in an embodiment in which the blocking member 300 is configured in a sheet shape, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 and the flame transfer prevention unit 320 included in the blocking member 300 may also be configured in a sheet shape. In this case, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 and the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be referred to as a heat transfer prevention sheet and a flame transfer prevention sheet, respectively.

[0064] For example, the blocking member 300 may be configured in a form in which a flame transfer prevention sheet is inserted inside a heat transfer prevention sheet having an empty space formed therein, as shown in the embodiment of Figures 5 to 7. In this case, it can be said that the blocking member 300 is configured in a form in which the heat transfer prevention sheet is coated on the outer side of the flame transfer prevention sheet.

[0065] This embodiment allows for easy manufacturing of the blocking member 300. Furthermore, the above embodiment allows for the flame transfer prevention portion 320 to be included within the heat transfer prevention portion 310, making it easy to realize a sheet-shaped blocking member 300.

[0066] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, Figure 8 can be said to be another modified example of the cross-sectional configuration taken along line A3-A3' in Figure 5. In the present embodiment and other embodiments in this specification, if parts described in other embodiments are applicable in the same or similar manner, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and the description will focus on differences.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 8 , the blocking member 300 may be configured such that a portion of the outer surface of the flame transfer prevention portion 320 is covered by the heat transfer prevention portion 310 and another portion is not covered by the heat transfer prevention portion 310. In particular, when the blocking member 300 is configured in a sheet shape, the flame transfer prevention portion 320 may also be configured in a sheet shape. In this case, two wide surfaces of the flame transfer prevention portion 320 may be covered by the heat transfer prevention portion 310, and the other edge portion may be exposed to the outside without being covered by the heat transfer prevention portion 310. For example, referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 , the flame transfer prevention portion 320 may have two wide surfaces, a left surface and a right surface, and edges may be located at the upper end, lower end, front end, and rear end, respectively. In this case, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be located outside the left surface and right surface of the flame transfer prevention portion 320, but not at the edges of the flame transfer prevention portion 320, i.e., the upper end, lower end, front end, and rear end. In particular, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be composed of two heat transfer sheets, and the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be composed of one flame transfer sheet, and the flame transfer sheet may be interposed between the two heat transfer sheets. That is, two heat transfer sheets may be attached to the left and right surfaces of the flame transfer sheet.

[0068] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the shielding member 300 can be manufactured more easily. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, even if the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is lost due to a fire, the overall height of the shielding member 300 can be maintained. Therefore, the flame propagation blocking effect of the shielding member 300 can be maintained within the battery module. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 , the upper end of the shielding member 300 interposed between the horizontally stacked battery cells 100 can be configured to directly contact the inner surface of the upper plate 210 of the module case 200, as shown in part B1. In this case, as in the embodiment of FIG. 8 , if the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is not present above the flame transfer prevention unit 320, the upper end of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can directly contact the upper plate 210 of the module case 200. Therefore, even if the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is removed due to a fire, the sealed state between the upper end of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 and the module case 200 can be maintained. Therefore, the flame blocking effect of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can be stably secured. In this case, even if the heat transfer prevention part 310 is removed, the position of the blocking member 300 inside the module case 200 can be stably maintained.

[0069] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of a portion of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of a modified example of portion B1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the configuration of Fig. 9. That is, Fig. 10 illustrates a configuration in which the blocking member 300 is separated from the module case 200 in the configuration of Fig. 9.

[0070] 9 and 10, an end of the blocking member 300 may be inserted into the module case 200. In this case, an insertion groove into which the end of the blocking member 300 is inserted may be formed in the module case 200. For example, an insertion groove may be formed in the inner surface of the module case 200, which is a portion indicated as G1 in FIG. 10. Furthermore, an end of the blocking member 300, for example, an upper end of the blocking member 300, may be inserted into the insertion groove G1 of the module case 200.

[0071] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the fitting structure between the blocking member 300 and the module case 200 allows the blocking member 300 to be stably fixed inside the module case 200 .

[0072] In particular, in an embodiment in which the end of the blocking member 300 is inserted into the module case 200, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 provided on the blocking member 300 may be configured to be inserted into the insertion groove of the module case 200. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, when the upper end of the blocking member 300 is inserted into the insertion groove G1 of the module case 200, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be inserted into the insertion groove G1 of the module case 200 by the length indicated by B2. In other words, even when the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is present in the blocking member 300, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may have a form inserted into the module case.

[0073] According to this embodiment of the present invention, even if the heat transfer prevention unit 310 melts or disappears due to a flame, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can remain inserted into the insertion groove G1 of the module case 200. In particular, in the case of a blocking member 300 configured such that an end, e.g., an upper end, of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 is covered with the heat transfer prevention unit 310 as in the embodiment of Figures 9 and 10, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 does not come out of the insertion groove G1 of the module case 200 even if the heat transfer prevention unit 310 melts or disappears. Therefore, in this case, the position of the blocking member 300 can be maintained even after a flame breaks out, and the spread of the flame to the end side, e.g., the upper side, of the blocking member 300 can be minimized.

[0074] In addition, the blocking member 300 may be configured to absorb swelling of the battery cell 100. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0075] 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a portion of the blocking member 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, for example, FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a configuration in which the portion B3 in FIG.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 11 , in the shielding member 300, sheet-shaped heat transfer prevention members 310, i.e., a left heat transfer sheet 310L and a right heat transfer sheet 310R, may be located on the left and right surfaces of the sheet-shaped flame transfer prevention member 320. Battery cells 100 may be disposed on the left and right sides of the shielding member 300, respectively. In this case, if swelling occurs in the battery cell 100 located on the left or right side of the shielding member 300, pressure may be applied to the shielding member 300. For example, referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 11 , if swelling occurs in the battery cell 100 located on the left side of the shielding member 300, pressure may be applied to the shielding member 300 in the right direction, as indicated by arrow D1. In this case, the heat transfer prevention member 310 may be configured to absorb this pressure and deform. That is, before swelling of the left battery cell 100, the left surface of the left heat transfer sheet 310L may have a shape indicated by dotted line C1. However, if swelling occurs in the left battery cell 100, the left heat transfer sheet 310L may be pushed to the right (-Y axis direction), and the left surface may assume a shape as shown by the solid line C2. In this case, the left heat transfer sheet 310L may be configured so that the shape of the left surface is deformed by the pressure caused by the swelling of the battery cell 100, but the right surface maintains its shape. Furthermore, the left heat transfer sheet 310L may be configured so that the entire sheet or the right surface does not move to the right despite pressure being applied to the left surface.

[0077] For this reason, at least a portion of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be formed of an elastic material. For example, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be a silicone sheet or a polyurethane sheet. Furthermore, silicone or polyurethane materials can ensure both good thermal insulation and elasticity. The heat transfer prevention portion 310 may also be formed of various other materials capable of absorbing volume expansion due to swelling of the battery cell 100, such as various other elastic materials such as rubber.

[0078] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 provided in the blocking member 300 can prevent heat transfer between the battery cells 100 and also prevent deformation or collapse of the internal structure of the battery module due to the swelling phenomenon of a particular battery cell 100. In particular, when the plurality of battery cells 100 are all pouch-type batteries, the swelling phenomenon of the battery cells 100 can become more serious. However, according to the above embodiment, the blocking member 300, particularly the heat transfer prevention portion 310, can appropriately deal with the swelling phenomenon of the pouch-type battery.

[0079] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0080] Referring to FIG. 12, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured so that its central portion is thicker than its end portions. More specifically, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured to stand in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In this case, the thickness of the central portion in the vertical direction is indicated by E1 in FIG. 12. The thickness of the upper or lower end of the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is indicated by E2 in FIG. 12. In this case, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured so that E1 is greater than E2. That is, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured so that its central portion is relatively thick and gradually thicker toward its ends, for example, its upper, lower, front, and rear ends.

[0081] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the heat insulating performance or swelling absorption performance of the heat transfer prevention unit 310 can be more effectively improved. That is, in the case of a battery cell 100, the largest volume expansion typically occurs in a portion facing the center of the heat transfer prevention unit 310. However, according to the above embodiment, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is formed thick in this portion, thereby sufficiently absorbing such volume expansion. Furthermore, in the case of a battery cell 100, a large amount of heat may be generated in the center. According to the above embodiment, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is formed thick in this portion, thereby effectively preventing heat transfer in this portion. In particular, if the battery cell 100 is a pouch-type battery, the center may be the portion facing the receiving portion of the pouch-type cell. Therefore, when the center portion of the heat transfer prevention unit 310 is formed relatively thick as in the above embodiment, it can effectively accommodate volume expansion and heat generation that occur in the receiving portion of the pouch-type cell.

[0082] Furthermore, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may have a recessed groove in its central portion. For example, referring to the embodiment of FIG. 12 , the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be configured to stand vertically, and grooves indicated by G2 and G2′ may be formed in the central portion between the upper and lower ends. In this case, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may have a substantially "I"-shaped cross section. In this configuration, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may also be filled in the central grooves G2 and G2′ of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. That is, the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be configured to cover the entire left and right surfaces of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, but more heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be present in the central grooves G2 and G2′ of the flame transfer prevention unit 320.

[0083] According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily realize a configuration that improves the swelling absorption and heat insulation performance of the battery cell 100 by thickening the central portion of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 without partially varying the thickness of the blocking member 300. In particular, the overall thickness of the blocking member 300, including the thickness of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 and the thickness of the flame transfer prevention portion 320, can be made uniform. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 12, although the thickness of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 varies and is not uniform from top to bottom, the overall thickness of the blocking member 300 can be made uniform from top to bottom. Therefore, when the blocking member 300 is interposed between the battery cells 100, unnecessary space consumption can be avoided, and the battery cells 100 and the blocking member 300 can be smoothly arranged side by side. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, at least a portion of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 is inserted into the central grooves G2, G2' of the flame transfer prevention portion 320, thereby further improving the bonding strength between the heat transfer prevention portion 310 and the flame transfer prevention portion 320. In particular, according to the above embodiment, the heat transfer prevention part 310 can be prevented from moving forward, backward, upward, and downward from the flame transfer prevention part 320.

[0084] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 13 , the flame transfer prevention portion 320 of the blocking member 300 has concave grooves formed in the central portions of the left and right surfaces, as indicated by G3 and G3′. These grooves may be curved or inclined. That is, the thickness of the flame transfer prevention portion 320 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) may be gradually reduced from the upper end toward the central portion, and then gradually increased again from the central portion toward the lower end. The flame transfer prevention portion 320 has a thin central portion, which is why it can be said to have a groove. The grooves G3 and G3′ formed in the central portion may be filled with the heat transfer prevention portion 310. Therefore, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 may be thicker at the central portion than at the ends.

[0086] According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to more efficiently deal with the swelling phenomenon of the battery cell 100. In particular, when swelling occurs in the battery cell 100, the central portion of the battery cell 100 expands the most, and the degree of expansion gradually decreases toward the ends. According to the above embodiment, it can be said that the heat transfer prevention unit 310 and the flame transfer prevention unit 320 are configured to deal with such an expansion mode of the battery cell 100. Therefore, it is possible to more appropriately deal with the swelling of the battery cell 100.

[0087] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] 14, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 has a concave groove formed in its central portion, and an empty space that is not filled by the heat transfer prevention unit 310 may be formed in the concave groove in the central portion. For example, as indicated by F1 in FIG. 14, an empty space, such as an air layer, may exist between the left surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 and the left heat transfer prevention unit 310. Also, as indicated by F1' in FIG. 14, an empty space may be formed between the right surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 and the right heat transfer prevention unit 310.

[0089] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the empty spaces F1, F1' between the flame transfer prevention unit 320 and the heat transfer prevention unit 310 can function as spaces that absorb swelling of the battery cells 100. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the weight of the blocking member 300 can be reduced, thereby reducing the weight of the entire battery module.

[0090] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the configuration of a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] 15, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be configured such that its thickness gradually increases or decreases from one end to the other. In particular, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be configured to have an inclined surface formed on its outer surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may have inclined surfaces F2 and F2' that are inclined so that their thickness gradually decreases from the top to the bottom (in the -Z-axis direction).

[0092] According to this embodiment of the present invention, if a fire breaks out inside the battery module, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be exposed to the outside. However, the inclined surfaces F2 and F2' formed on the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can control the discharge or movement direction of vent gas and flame. For example, according to the configuration shown in FIG. 15, the inclined surfaces F2 and F2' of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can guide the gas and flame downward as much as possible. In particular, while gas and flame tend to move upward, this embodiment can suppress the upward movement of such gas and flame. Therefore, it is advantageous in that the gas and flame can be prevented from being discharged upward on the battery module, thereby protecting devices and drivers located above the battery module.

[0093] Fig. 16 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a flame transfer prevention portion 320 provided in a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the configuration in Fig. 16 shows only the shape of the flame transfer prevention portion 320 in the blocking member 300, and the heat transfer prevention portion 310 has been removed. For example, the embodiment configuration in Fig. 16 can be said to depict a configuration in which the heat transfer prevention portion 310 has melted and disappeared due to a flame or the like.

[0094] Referring to FIG. 16, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may have a groove formed in its central portion. That is, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may have inwardly recessed grooves formed on the left and right surfaces, respectively, as indicated by G4. The flame transfer prevention unit 320 may also have at least one side of the groove G4 open to the outside. For example, the groove G4 formed on the right surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be open at its front side, as indicated by H1 in FIG. 16. The groove formed on the left surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be open at its front side, as indicated by H1' in FIG. 16.

[0095] According to this embodiment of the present invention, vent gas can be discharged through the openings H1 and H1' of the groove formed in the flame transfer prevention unit 320. For example, as shown in FIG. 16 , if the openings H1 and H1' are formed forward of the groove G4 of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, the vent gas that has flowed into the groove G4 of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can be discharged to the outside through the front openings H1 and H1'. In this case, the gas can move forward along the surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, as shown by arrow D2 in FIG. 16 . Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the discharge and direction of the vent gas can be appropriately controlled or guided.

[0096] In particular, a vent hole (not shown) may be formed in the module case 200 of the battery module. For example, the vent hole may be formed in the front plate 250 of the module case 200. In this case, as shown in Fig. 16, when the vent gas is guided forward through the flame transfer prevention portion 320 of the blocking member 300, the vent gas can be smoothly and quickly discharged to the vent hole. Therefore, if an abnormal condition such as thermal runaway occurs inside the battery module and gas is generated, it is possible to prevent the battery module from exploding and ensure safety when the vent gas is discharged.

[0097] Fig. 17 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a flame transfer prevention section 320 provided in a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. In the configuration of Fig. 17, as in Fig. 16, only the shape of the flame transfer prevention section 320 in the blocking member 300 is shown, and the heat transfer prevention section 310 has been removed. In other words, as in Fig. 16, the embodiment configuration of Fig. 17 can be said to illustrate a configuration in which the heat transfer prevention section 310 has melted and disappeared due to a flame or the like.

[0098] 17, the flame transfer prevention unit 320, like that of FIG. 16, has a groove G4 formed in the center and an opening H1 formed on one side, for example, the front side, so that gas and the like are discharged toward the opening H1. However, in the embodiment of FIG. 17, a blocking protrusion, designated P1, configured to protrude outward is formed in the groove G4 of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. For example, the right surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 is formed with a groove G4, and the groove G4 may be formed with a blocking protrusion P1 configured to protrude toward the right.

[0099] In the flame transfer prevention unit 320 configured as described above, vent gas flowing into the groove G4 is discharged toward the forwardly located opening H1, but the flow of the vent gas may be blocked by the blocking protrusion P1. However, such blocking protrusion P1 may be configured to deflect the flow of the vent gas rather than completely blocking the vent gas from being discharged from the groove G4 toward the opening H1. For example, as shown in FIG. 17 , multiple blocking protrusions P1 are formed in the groove G4 of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, thereby bending the vent gas upward and / or downward as it is discharged forward, as indicated by arrow D3. Although FIG. 17 only shows the right surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, a groove G4 may also be formed on the left surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, and a blocking protrusion P1 may be formed in that groove.

[0100] In particular, the blocking protrusion P1 may be formed to be elongated in a direction perpendicular to the discharge direction of the gas, etc. For example, as shown in Fig. 17, in the flame transfer prevention portion 320 of the blocking member 300, the vent gas can be discharged forward (in the negative X-axis direction) through the groove G4. In this case, the blocking protrusion P1 may be formed to be elongated in the vertical direction (in the Z-axis direction), which is perpendicular to the discharge direction of the vent gas.

[0101] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the vent gas can be reduced by lengthening the vent gas discharge path during the process of guiding the vent gas through the flame transfer prevention portion 320 of the blocking member 300. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, a bent portion is formed in the vent gas discharge path, so that when a flame is discharged together with the vent gas, it is possible to prevent a flame with a strong linear tendency from being discharged to the outside. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to prevent sparks, active material particles, etc. contained in the vent gas from being discharged to the outside. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to prevent a fire from occurring outside the battery module or in another battery cell 100.

[0102] In particular, in the above embodiment, the blocking protrusion P1 may be located on the side of the open portion H1 of the flame transfer prevention portion 320. In this case, it is possible to prevent or reduce the problem of the blocking protrusion P1 obstructing the flow of vent gas into the groove G4.

[0103] Fig. 18 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a flame transfer prevention unit 320 provided in a blocking member 300 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A5-A5' in Fig. 18. The configurations shown in Figs. 18 and 19 also show a state in which the heat transfer prevention unit 310 has been removed.

[0104] 18 and 19, the openings of the grooves formed on both surfaces of flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be formed on different sides. More specifically, grooves G4' and G4 may be formed on the right and left surfaces of flame transfer prevention unit 320, respectively, and openings H1 and H1' may be formed in each groove G4' and G4. In this case, opening H1 on the right surface may be formed on the front side of flame transfer prevention unit 320, and opening H1' on the left surface may be formed on the rear side of flame transfer prevention unit 320. In other words, the openings formed on both surfaces of flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be formed on opposite sides.

[0105] In this case, the vent gas discharged from the battery cell 100 located to the right of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can move forward (in the -X-axis direction) along the right surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 as shown by arrow D4 in Fig. 19. Also, the vent gas discharged from the battery cell 100 located to the left of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can move backward (in the +X-axis direction) along the left surface of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 as shown by arrow D4' in Fig. 19.

[0106] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the gas generated from the battery cell 100 arranged on the left side and the gas generated from the battery cell 100 arranged on the right side can be discharged in different directions, particularly in opposite directions, based on one blocking member 300. This makes it possible to prevent high-temperature and high-pressure vent gas from concentrating in a specific area.

[0107] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, it is possible to more effectively prevent vent gas discharged to one side from flowing toward the battery cell 100 located on the other side of the flame transfer prevention unit. For example, in the embodiment of Figures 18 and 19, when vent gas generated from the battery cell 100 located to the right of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 is discharged toward the right opening part H1 of the flame transfer prevention unit 320, it is possible to prevent the vent gas from flowing toward the battery cell 100 located to the left of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 through the left opening part H1' of the flame transfer prevention unit 320. Therefore, according to this aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more effectively ensure the effect of preventing thermal runaway transition between battery cells 100.

[0108] In the battery module according to the present invention, each of the plurality of battery cells 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In this case, each secondary battery may include a housing portion and a sealing portion.

[0109] In this configuration, the flame transfer prevention part 320 may be formed so that the thickness of the part facing the sealing part is greater than the thickness of the part facing the receiving part, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0110] 20 is a schematic diagram showing a top view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which only one battery cell 100 and one blocking member 300 are shown for ease of explanation.

[0111] 20, the battery cell 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery, and may include an accommodating portion indicated by J1 and a sealing portion indicated by J2. Here, the accommodating portion J1 may be a portion for accommodating an electrode assembly (including a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, and a separator) and an electrolyte in the internal space of the pouch exterior material. The sealing portion J2 may be located at the edge of the accommodating portion J1 and may be a portion for sealing the internal space of the accommodating portion J1 when the pouch exterior material is fused. The configurations of the accommodating portion J1 and the sealing portion J2 are widely known as of the filing of the present application, and therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0112] In accordance with this type of battery cell 100, the flame transfer prevention unit 320 may be formed so that the thickness of the portion facing the accommodating unit J1 is thinner than the thickness of the portion facing the sealing unit J2 when the flame transfer prevention unit 320 is interposed between the plurality of battery cells 100. More specifically, with reference to the configuration shown in FIG. 20 , the portion of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 facing the accommodating unit J1 may be the portion indicated by I1, and the portion facing the sealing unit J2 may be the portion indicated by I2. In this case, the portion of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 indicated by I2 may be thicker than the portion indicated by I1. In particular, the portion facing the sealing unit J2 when the blocking member 300 is interposed between the pouch-type battery cells 100 may be an end side of the blocking member, for example, an end in the front-rear direction. Therefore, when the end side of the flame transfer prevention portion 320 is, for example, in the form of an upright sheet, the front-to-rear end and / or the top-to-bottom end facing the sealing portion J2 of the battery cell 100 can be said to be formed thicker than the central portion corresponding to the storage portion J1 of the battery cell 100.

[0113] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the flame blocking effect between the pouch-type battery cells 100 can be further improved. In particular, when a plurality of pouch-type battery cells 100 are stacked side by side, more empty space may be formed on the sealing portion J2 side than on the receiving portion J1 side. Therefore, when a flame is emitted from a specific battery cell 100, the emitted flame and high-temperature gas may head toward the sealing portion J2 side of the battery cell 100. In this case, in the above embodiment, the flame transfer prevention portion 320 is formed thicker on the sealing portion J2 side, so that the flame located on the sealing portion J2 side can be more effectively blocked from spreading toward other battery cells 100.

[0114] In particular, the pouch-type battery cell 100 may have a substantially rectangular shape, with sealing portions J2 formed on four or three edges around the accommodation portion J1. In this case, the electrode lead 101 may protrude toward some of the sealing portions J2. For example, in a pouch-type battery cell 100 that is vertically erected, the sealing portions J2 may be located at the front, rear, upper, and lower portions. In this case, as shown in FIG. 20 , the electrode lead 101 may be provided so as to protrude toward the front sealing portion and the rear sealing portion, respectively. The sealing portion from which the electrode lead 101 protrudes may be referred to as a terrace portion to distinguish it from other sealing portions. In this case, the flame transfer prevention portion 320 may be formed so that the thickness of the portion facing the terrace portion is thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the accommodation portion. Furthermore, the thickness of the portion facing the terrace portion may be formed thicker than the thickness of the portion facing other sealing portions other than the terrace portion.

[0115] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the flame blocking effect of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can be further improved. In particular, the terrace portion may have a larger area than the other sealing portion J2, which may result in a greater concentration of flame and high-temperature vent gas. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, if the thickness of the portions of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 corresponding to the terrace portion is increased, the flame blocking performance between the battery cells 100 can be more stably ensured even if flame concentrates on the terrace portion. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the difference in thickness of the flame transfer prevention unit 320 can stably protect the electrode leads from flame.

[0116] 20 , the thickness of the portion of the heat transfer prevention portion 310 facing the housing portion J1 of the battery cell 100 may be formed to be thicker than the thickness of the portion facing the sealing portion J2 of the battery cell 100. In this case, even if relatively large heat or expansion occurs in the housing portion J1 of the battery cell 100, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 is formed thick and can therefore appropriately absorb the generated heat, volumetric expansion, and the like.

[0117] The blocking member 300 may be disposed not only between the battery cells 100 but also between the battery cells 100 and the module case 200. For example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, when a plurality of battery cells 100 are arranged in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) to form a cell assembly, the blocking member 300 may be disposed on both the left and right sides of the cell assembly. In this case, it can be said that the blocking member 300 is disposed between the cell assembly and the module case 200.

[0118] According to this embodiment of the present invention, when heat or a fire occurs inside a battery module, the transfer of heat, fire, etc. to the outside of the battery module can be blocked or suppressed. In particular, other battery modules or other components of a battery pack, such as a battery management system (BMS), may be disposed outside the battery module. According to the above embodiment, the transfer of heat or fire to such other battery modules or BMS, etc. can be minimized.

[0119] FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view showing a partial configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0120] Referring to FIG. 21 , a plurality of pouch-type battery cells 100 may be arranged in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) with the housing portions facing the left-right direction. In this case, the electrode leads 101 of each battery cell 100 may be arranged to protrude in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). A plurality of the blocking members 300 may be arranged along the stacking direction (Y-axis direction) of the plurality of battery cells 100. In particular, some of the plurality of blocking members 300 may be located outside the cell stack, and the remaining blocking members 300 may be located inside the cell stack. More specifically, in the embodiment of FIG. 21 , five blocking members 300 may be arranged spaced apart from one another in the left-right direction, as indicated by K1 to K5. Here, the first member K1 and the fifth member K5 are arranged on the outermost left and right sides of the cell stack, and the second member K2, the third member K3, and the fourth member K4 are arranged inside the cell stack.

[0121] In such an embodiment, at least two of the multiple blocking members 300 may be configured to have different compressibility. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 21, at least two of the five blocking members 300 designated K1 to K5 may be configured to have different compressibility. Here, compressibility may refer to the degree of compression when pressure is applied in the thickness direction. For example, the compressibility of each blocking member 300 may refer to the degree to which the thickness decreases in the width direction (Y-axis direction) when pressure is applied to the outer surface, as designated by D1 in the embodiment of FIG. 11. Therefore, a higher compressibility may mean that a relatively greater compression can be achieved when the same force is applied.

[0122] In particular, the multiple blocking members 300 may be configured to have a difference in compressibility between the blocking members 300 arranged on the outside of the cell stack and the blocking members 300 arranged on the inside of the cell stack. Furthermore, the outer blocking members 300 may be configured to have a lower compressibility than the inner blocking members 300. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 21 , the first member K1 and the fifth member K5 arranged on the outside of the cell stack may be configured to have a lower compressibility than the second member K2, the third member K3, and the fourth member K4 arranged on the inside of the cell stack.

[0123] According to this embodiment, when swelling occurs in the battery cells 100 included in the cell stack, it is possible to ensure the ability to respond to the swelling and more effectively prevent damage to the battery cells 100. That is, the inner shielding members such as the second to fourth members K2 to K4 have a relatively high compression ratio and can effectively absorb the swelling of the cell stack. On the other hand, the outer shielding members such as the first and fifth members K1 and K5 have a relatively low compression ratio and can therefore suppress excessive movement of the outermost battery cells 100.

[0124] In particular, at least one side of the cell stack, for example, the lower end of each battery cell 100, may be adhesively fixed to the module case 200 with an adhesive. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 21 , a thermal resin may be interposed as an adhesive between the lower part of the cell stack and the upper surface of the lower plate 220. In addition, when swelling occurs among the battery cells 100 belonging to the cell stack, the outermost battery cell 100 may move the most. In this case, if the outermost cell moves a long distance while its lower end is adhesively fixed, the battery cell 100 may be more likely to break.

[0125] However, according to the above-described embodiment, excessive movement of the outermost battery cell 100 can be suppressed by reducing the compression ratio of the outer shielding members such as K1 and K5. In addition, swelling of the cell stack can be effectively absorbed by the shielding members 300 located relatively inside such as K2 to K4. This can prevent the problem of tearing of the outermost battery cell 100. In addition, in this case, the thickness of the outermost shielding member 300 can be reduced, which has the effect of increasing the internal space of the module case 200. This can also contribute to improving the energy density of the battery module.

[0126] As mentioned above, a representative embodiment in which the blocking member 300 has different compression rates will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.

[0127] Figures 22 and 23 are enlarged views of different configurations of the blocking member 300 included in the battery module of Figure 21. In particular, Figure 22 is an enlarged front view of part A61 of Figure 21, and Figure 23 is an enlarged front view of part A63 of Figure 21.

[0128] Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the plurality of blocking members 300 can be configured to have different thicknesses. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 21, the outermost blocking member K1 is configured to have a thickness indicated by T1 in FIG. 22, and the inner blocking member K3 can be configured to have a thickness indicated by T3 in FIG. 23. At this time, the thickness T1 of the outermost blocking member K1 can be made thinner than the thickness T3 of the inner blocking member K3. That is, T1 and T3 can have a relationship of T1 < T3. Here, the two outermost blocking members K1 and K5 can have the same thickness as each other, and the three inner blocking members K2, K3, and K4 can have the same thickness as each other.

[0129] Alternatively, when a plurality of inner blocking members are provided, they can be configured to have different thicknesses even among the plurality of inner blocking members. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 21, among the three inner blocking members K2, K3, and K4, the inner blocking member K3 located in the center can be configured to have a greater thickness than the other two inner blocking members K2 and K4 located relatively outside. In this case, it can be said that the thickness of the blocking member 300 gradually increases from the outside to the inside of the cell stack.

[0130] Furthermore, the plurality of blocking members 300 can mainly play a role in absorbing the swelling of the heat transfer prevention portion 310. Therefore, the plurality of blocking members 300 can be configured to have different thicknesses of the heat transfer prevention portion 310. In particular, the heat transfer prevention portion 310 of the blocking member located outside can be configured to have a thinner thickness than the heat transfer prevention portion 310 of the blocking member located inside.

[0131] For example, the heat transfer prevention part 310 of the outermost blocking member K1 may have a thickness indicated by T11 in FIG. 22, and the heat transfer prevention part 310 of the inner blocking member K3 may have a thickness indicated by T31 in FIG. 23. At this time, T11 and T31 may be set to have a relationship of T11 < T31. That is, the thickness T11 of the heat transfer prevention part 310 of the outermost blocking member K1 may be configured to be thinner than the thickness T31 of the heat transfer prevention part 310 of the inner blocking member K3. In this case, the overall thickness T1 of the outermost blocking member K1 may be configured to be thinner than the overall thickness T3 of the inner blocking member K3.

[0132] According to such an implementation configuration, since the heat transfer prevention part 310 of the outermost blocking member is relatively thin, the effect of restricting the movement of the outermost battery cell 100 can be enhanced. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent a breakage phenomenon or the like caused by excessive movement of the outermost battery cell 100.

[0133] Also, the flame transfer prevention part 320 of the outermost blocking member K1 may have a thickness indicated by T12 in FIG. 22, and the flame transfer prevention part 320 of the inner blocking member K3 may have a thickness indicated by T32 in FIG. 23. At this time, T12 and T32 may be set to have a relationship of T12 > T32. That is, the thickness T12 of the flame transfer prevention part 320 of the outermost blocking member K1 may be configured to be thicker than the thickness T32 of the flame transfer prevention part 320 of the inner blocking member K3. Furthermore, compared with the inner blocking member K3, the outermost blocking member K1 may have the flame transfer prevention part 320 formed relatively thick and the heat transfer prevention part 310 formed relatively thin. Since the flame transfer prevention part 320 may have higher rigidity than the heat transfer prevention part 310, according to the above implementation configuration, the performance of suppressing the outermost battery cell 100 from being pushed can be ensured more favorably. Also, in this case, the outermost blocking member K1 and the inner blocking member K3 may have the same thickness, or the difference in thickness may not be large.

[0134] Also, the blocking member 300 may be interposed between different cell banks. This will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25.

[0135] Figure 24 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module of Figure 24. This embodiment will also be described focusing on differences from the above-described embodiments.

[0136] 24 and 25, the battery cells 100 included in the battery module may be grouped into a plurality of cell banks, as indicated by CB1 to CB8. The cell banks CB1 to CB8 may be connected in series with each other. That is, the battery cells 100 may include two or more cell banks connected in series.

[0137] Each of the cell banks CB1 to CB8 may include a plurality of battery cells 100. In this case, the battery cells 100 in each cell bank may be connected in parallel to one another. For example, in the embodiments of FIGS. 24 and 25, each cell bank may include three battery cells 100 connected in parallel.

[0138] In this embodiment, the blocking member 300 may be interposed between different cell banks. For example, as shown in Figures 24 and 25, if a battery module includes eight cell banks CB1 to CB8, the blocking member 300 may be interposed between each of the different cell banks.

[0139] According to this embodiment, even if a thermal runaway occurs in one of the cell banks, the propagation of the thermal runaway to other cell banks connected in series can be prevented or suppressed. Therefore, even if a voltage drop occurs in the battery module due to gas emission or fire occurrence in a specific cell bank, the voltage drop can be caused to occur in stages on a cell bank basis. Therefore, by reducing the voltage drop rate of the entire battery module, it is possible to achieve the effect of maximizing the delay of the voltage drop.

[0140] Furthermore, in this case, the safety of the battery module and the device to which such a battery module is applied can be improved. For example, in a battery module installed in an electric vehicle, even if an event such as thermal runaway occurs while the vehicle is running, the voltage drop can be made as gradual as possible. Therefore, the driver can continue running the electric vehicle for a certain period of time and move it to a safe location such as the shoulder of the road as soon as possible.

[0141] In order to increase the energy density of the battery module and ensure stability against swelling and vibration, it is necessary to appropriately design the dimensions and space of the components housed in a predetermined space inside the module case 200.

[0142] In the battery module according to the present invention, a stacked unit formed by stacking a plurality of components may be accommodated in the internal space of the module case 200. Here, the stacked unit may include a battery cell 100 and an insulating member 300. In particular, the insulating member 300 may be disposed outside the battery cells 100 and / or in the space between the battery cells 100. In addition, an adhesive member for fixing various components may be interposed in the stacked unit. For example, an adhesive member may be disposed between two battery cells 100 and / or between a battery cell 100 and the insulating member 300 to tightly adhere the different components. Here, the adhesive member may be configured to be applied by a method such as spraying, or may be configured to be attached to the cell surface as an adhesive sheet or adhesive pad. In particular, even if the adhesive member is applied by a method such as spraying, the adhesive member may be provided in the form of a sheet or pad having a certain thickness when the adhesive is cured.

[0143] In such an embodiment, the overall width of the stack unit can be calculated by the following formula: Here, the width may refer to the overall length of the stack unit set in the direction in which the multiple battery cells 100 are stacked (e.g., the Y-axis direction in FIG. 24 ), and may have units such as mm.

[0144] W T =W C +W O +W I +W A where W T represents the total width of the laminated unit, and W C represents the total thickness of all battery cells, and W O represents the total width of the outermost pad, and W I 21, and the inner pads may represent the inner insulating members 300 located inside the cell stack, i.e., between the battery cells 100, such as K2 to K4 in FIG. 21. A W may refer to the overall width of the adhesive member. O , W, W IA etc. may have length units such as mm.

[0145] In the above formula, W C is the total number of battery cells N as follows: C The thickness of each battery cell (T C ) can be derived by multiplying. Hereinafter, "*" means multiplication.

[0146] W C =N C *T C Also, W O is the number of outermost pads N O , the individual thickness of the outermost pad T O and the initial compression rate C of the outermost pad O Using this, it can be calculated as follows:

[0147] W O =N O *(T O *(1-C O )) Here, the initial compression rate C OThe initial compression ratio C may refer to the compression ratio of the outermost pad when the stacked unit is inserted into the module case and assembled without swelling of the battery cell. O may refer to the degree of initial compression of the outermost pad when assembling the battery module. For example, when the stacked unit is inserted into the module case and the outermost pad is compressed by 15% compared to before pressure is applied, the initial compression rate C O can be 0.15.

[0148] Also, W I is the number of internal pads N I , the individual thickness of the inner pad T I and the initial compression rate of the internal pad C I Using this, it can be calculated as follows:

[0149] W I =N I *(T I *(1-C I )) Here, the initial compression rate C I The initial compression ratio C may refer to the compression ratio of the internal pad when no swelling of the battery cell occurs after the stack unit is inserted into the module case and assembled. I may refer to the degree of compression of the internal pad during initial assembly of the battery module. For example, if the internal pad is compressed by 20% compared to before pressure when the stacked unit is inserted into the module case, the initial compression rate C I can be 0.2.

[0150] Also, W A is the number of adhesive members N A and the individual thickness T of the adhesive member A Using this, it can be calculated as follows:

[0151] W A =N A *T A On the other hand, the initial compression ratio of the blocking member, i.e., the initial compression ratio C of the outermost padO and / or the initial compression rate C of the inner pad I can be set appropriately. In particular, the initial compression rate of the blocking member can be set to 8% or more, further 10% or more, and particularly 12% or more. Furthermore, the initial compression rate of the blocking member can be set to 22% or less, further 20% or less, and particularly 18% or less. For example, the initial compression rate of the blocking member can be set to 10% to 20%. If the initial compression rate of the blocking member is set below this range, the amount of movement of the stack unit within the module case may increase due to tolerances, etc., and structural stability may be reduced. On the other hand, if the initial compression rate of the blocking member exceeds this range, it may become difficult to insert the stack unit into the module case. Therefore, by appropriately setting the initial compression rate of the blocking member as described above, the assembly ease and / or structural stability of the battery module can be further improved.

[0152] A battery pack according to the present invention may include one or more battery modules according to the present invention described above. In addition to the battery module, the battery pack according to the present invention may further include various other components, such as battery pack components known at the time of filing of the present invention, such as a battery management system (BMS), bus bars, a pack case, a relay, and a current sensor. In the battery pack according to the present invention, the module case 200 described above may function as the pack case. In this case, battery pack components such as the BMS, bus bars, and relays may be included inside the module case 200. In this case, the battery cells 100 are directly housed in the pack case, which may be referred to as a cell-to-pack system.

[0153] The battery module according to the present invention may be applied to automobiles such as electric automobiles and hybrid automobiles. That is, the automobile according to the present invention may include the battery module according to the present invention or the battery pack according to the present invention. Furthermore, the automobile according to the present invention may further include various other components included in the automobile in addition to the battery module or battery pack. For example, the automobile according to the present invention may further include a vehicle body, a motor, a control device such as an electronic control unit (ECU), etc. in addition to the battery module according to the present invention.

[0154] On the other hand, in this specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used, but these terms are used for convenience of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that they may differ depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0155] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to these, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] 100 battery cells 200 Module Case 210 Upper Plate 220 Lower plate 230 Left board 240 Right plate 250 front plate 260 Rear plate 300 Blocking member 310 Heat transfer prevention section 320 Flame transfer prevention part

Claims

1. a plurality of battery cells stacked in at least one direction; a module case that houses the plurality of battery cells in an internal space; a blocking member interposed between adjacent battery cells, the blocking member including: a heat transfer prevention portion configured to prevent heat transfer between the adjacent battery cells; and a flame transfer prevention portion provided inside the heat transfer prevention portion and configured to block a flame between the adjacent battery cells; Including a battery module.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer prevention portion is made of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the flame transfer prevention portion.

3. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the flame transfer prevention portion is made of a material having a higher melting point than the heat transfer prevention portion.

4. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is configured such that, when the heat transfer prevention portion melts, the flame transfer prevention portion is exposed toward the battery cell.

5. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is formed in a sheet shape.

6. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is configured in a form in which a flame transfer prevention sheet is interposed inside a heat transfer prevention sheet.

7. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is configured to absorb swelling of the battery cell.

8. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer prevention portion is formed so that a thickness of a central portion is greater than a thickness of an end portion.

9. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the flame transfer prevention portion has a concave groove formed in a central portion thereof.

10. The battery module of claim 9 , wherein the flame transfer prevention part is configured such that at least one side of the concave groove formed in the central portion is open to the outside.

11. each of the plurality of battery cells is a pouch-type secondary battery having a housing portion and a sealing portion; 2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of a portion of the flame transfer prevention portion facing the sealing portion between the plurality of battery cells is formed to be thicker than a thickness of a portion of the flame transfer prevention portion facing the accommodation portion.

12. a plurality of the blocking members are arranged along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells, The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of blocking members are configured to have different compression rates.

13. the plurality of battery cells comprises two or more cell banks connected in series; The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is interposed between different cell banks.

14. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. A motor vehicle comprising a battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

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