Battery pack and energy storage system including same

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery pack that can reduce material costs, has a simplified structure, and has an increased energy density.A battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of columns, a plurality of steel bars that connect opposing columns and are assembled in multiple stages along a height direction of the columns, a plurality of trays that are mounted on the steel bars to form each stage, and a plurality of cell module assemblies that are mounted on the trays in each stage.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack and an energy storage system including the same, and more particularly to a battery pack in which battery modules are collectively configured to improve space utilization, and an energy storage system including the same.This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0086642 filed on July 4, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [Background technology]

[0002] Secondary batteries, which are easily applicable to various products and have electrical properties such as high energy density, are commonly used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which are powered by electrical sources. These secondary batteries not only have the major advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but are also recognized as an environmentally friendly energy source that improves energy efficiency because they do not produce any by-products from energy use.

[0003] Known secondary batteries include lithium ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, and nickel zinc batteries. A battery module is formed by connecting multiple battery cells in series or in parallel, and a battery pack is sometimes formed by assembling multiple such battery modules.

[0004] Energy storage systems (ESS), which have been gaining attention recently, are devices that can maximize power usage efficiency by storing produced electricity in battery cells and supplying it to consumers when it is needed. ESS consists of multiple battery modules that make up a single battery rack, with dozens to hundreds of battery racks coming together to form a single system. ESS can also be used in conjunction with uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), which can provide a stable supply of power in response to sudden power supply interruptions or abnormalities, or solar energy generation systems, which are power generation devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy.

[0005] A battery rack generally includes a metal rack case to protect multiple battery modules from external impact or to house and store them. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery module, Figure 2 is a perspective view of a conventional rack case, and Figure 3 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 2.

[0006] Referring to FIG. 1, a battery module 10 may include a module housing 20 and a plurality of battery cells (not shown) provided inside the module housing 20 and stacked in one direction.

[0007] 2 and 3, the rack case 30 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery modules 10 shown in FIG. 1 arranged in a vertical direction. The plurality of battery modules 10 may be mounted spaced apart from one another in a vertical direction inside the rack case 30. The rack case 30 may include a storage space having an open structure such that the plurality of battery modules 10 communicate with each other in a vertical direction.

[0008] For example, as shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3, the rack case 30 may have a frame 40 that defines the storage space. In addition, support brackets 50 are coupled to the frame 40, and when multiple battery modules 10 are mounted in the rack case 30, the battery modules 10 are supported by the support brackets 50 of the rack case 30, and the battery modules 10 are mounted in each compartment. A module housing 20 is required for each battery module 10 to be accommodated in each compartment, and the rack case 30 must include the frame 40 and the support brackets 50. In addition, a certain distance is required between the support brackets 50 at the upper and lower ends of the rack case 30.

[0009] As described above, in order to construct a conventional battery rack, multiple parts are required, which increases material costs, the assembly process of mounting the battery modules 10 in each compartment of the rack case 30 is complicated, the rack case 30 is structurally complex, and the energy density is wasted by the space occupied by components other than the battery cells in each compartment of the rack case 30.

[0010] Therefore, it is necessary to achieve a new integrated structure of the battery module 10 to prevent an increase in material costs, simplify the assembly process, improve space utilization, and increase energy density. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack that can reduce material costs, has a simple structure, and has an increased energy density.

[0012] Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an energy storage device that includes such a battery pack, thereby simplifying the assembly process and increasing the energy density.

[0013] However, the problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above problems, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention given below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] To solve the above problems, a battery pack according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of columns; a plurality of steel bars connecting opposing columns and assembled in multiple stages along the height direction of the columns; a plurality of trays mounted on the steel bars to form each stage; and a plurality of cell module assemblies mounted on the trays in each stage.

[0015] Here, a plurality of cell module assemblies mounted on the trays of each stage are connected to form one battery module, and an electrical connection member for connecting the battery modules of each stage may be further included.

[0016] In this case, the battery module is not enclosed in a separate module case, and the battery pack may further include a pack case for protecting an internal structure.

[0017] The pack case may include a box-shaped housing with an open top surface.

[0018] Preferably, the tray is supported on a horizontal surface by the steel bars.

[0019] The battery pack may further include a base plate constituting a bottom stage, and the plurality of columns may be assembled to the base plate.

[0020] The pillars may be assembled to at least four corners of the base plate, and the steel bars may connect between pillars facing each other in a width direction of the battery pack and be aligned along a length direction of the battery pack.

[0021] The pillars have holes drilled at regular intervals along the height direction of the pillars, and the steel bars can be inserted into the holes between the opposing pillars to assemble them.

[0022] The tray may include an upper surface and a side wall extending downward from the upper surface, and the side wall may have a groove formed therein into which the steel bar is inserted from above to below.

[0023] The pillars are arranged in n rows and m columns along the width and length directions of the battery pack, the steel bars are assembled between the pillars in the same column, and a bar-type top frame having a rectangular cross section may be fastened to the top of the pillars in parallel with the steel bars.

[0024] The column may have a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the height direction, and the steel bar may have a circular cross section.

[0025] Preferably, each stage further includes a heat sink between the tray and the cell module assembly.

[0026] The battery pack may further include a cooling pipe assembly that supplies a coolant to each of the heat sinks and collects the coolant from each of the heat sinks.

[0027] The cooling pipe assembly may be located at a front end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction.

[0028] The cooling pipe assembly may include a refrigerant injection port for injecting a refrigerant from outside the battery pack, a refrigerant injection pipe connected to the refrigerant injection port, an injection side connector for connecting the refrigerant injection pipe and each of the heat sinks, a refrigerant discharge port for discharging the refrigerant to the outside of the battery pack, a refrigerant discharge pipe connected to the refrigerant discharge port, and a discharge side connector for connecting the refrigerant discharge pipe and each of the heat sinks.

[0029] The refrigerant inlet port and the refrigerant outlet port may be located at the upper center of a front end portion in a longitudinal direction of the battery pack, and a Battery Management System (BMS) may be further included between the refrigerant inlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe.

[0030] The tray and heat sink extend further toward the front end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction than the cell module assembly, and the inlet connector and outlet connector may be located in the extended portion of the heat sink.

[0031] Electrical connections can be made between the cell module assemblies.

[0032] The battery pack may further include a top cover that covers the uppermost cell module assembly on the top frame.

[0033] For example, a first electrical connection member extending from the lowermost cell module assembly at the rear end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction may be connected to a first terminal portion of the top cover, and a second electrical connection member extending from the uppermost cell module assembly at the front end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction may be extended from a lower portion of the top cover and connected to a second terminal portion of the top cover.

[0034] According to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack may include multiple battery modules arranged in a vertical direction, with trays supported by steel bars and a plurality of cell module assemblies mounted on the trays in each tier connected to form a battery module.

[0035] Here, the number of battery modules may be four to six.

[0036] The present invention also provides an energy storage system including at least one battery pack according to the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] According to the present invention, a plurality of battery modules are integrated into one pack unit, and a case is embodied only in the pack unit, thereby simplifying the structure of the battery pack, increasing energy density, and reducing material costs.

[0038] According to the present invention, trays and steel bars are arranged in multiple stages inside a battery pack, and each stage of the cell module assembly forms one battery module, and four to six such battery modules are combined to form a battery pack. This battery pack has improved space utilization because the battery modules are arranged in a concentrated manner.

[0039] According to the present invention, it is easy to manufacture a battery pack including a desired number of battery module stages, and battery capacity can be freely expanded. The width and height areas of the battery pack, i.e., the footprint, can be standardized, and the battery pack can be freely expanded in the height direction by increasing the number of battery module stages.

[0040] According to the present invention, since battery modules can be configured in multiple stages inside a battery pack, it is easy to design an energy storage system by arranging or stacking such battery packs, and the assembly process can be minimized compared to the conventional case where battery racks are designed to be integrated.

[0041] According to the present invention, the internal structure of the battery pack can be stably supported by columns, trays, and a pack case. Therefore, the movement of the internal structure, such as the cell module assembly, inside the battery pack can be minimized, and the impact of transportation (vibration) can be reduced. As such, the battery pack of the present invention is easy to transport and the assembly process at the installation site is simple, which is more convenient than a transportable rack system that must be equipped with means to prevent deformation and damage of components due to transportation (vibration), and allows for the realization of an energy storage system at lower cost.

[0042] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to only the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery pack. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional rack case. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1 is a front perspective view showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the battery pack of FIG. 4 with the pack case separated. [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the main internal structures are assembled. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 1A to 1C are views for explaining a method of manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of another internal structure that is coupled to FIG. 6. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the bottom surface of the top cover of FIG. 15. [Figure 17] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the front side of FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the rear side of FIG. 6. [Figure 19] 1 is a diagram illustrating an energy storage system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] 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 this specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary and dictionary meanings, but should be construed as meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventors themselves can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the configurations shown in the embodiments described in this specification are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a front perspective view showing a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the battery pack of FIG. 4 with the pack case separated therefrom.

[0046] 4 and 5, a battery pack 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pack case 300 for protecting an internal structure 200. The battery pack 100 may further include a top cover 400.

[0047] The pack case 300 may include a box-shaped housing with an open top. The pack case 300 covers the front, rear, left and right sides, and bottom of the internal structure 200, and the top cover 400 may cover the top of the internal structure 200.

[0048] The pack case 300 may be made of a material having a certain level of rigidity to protect the internal structure 200. Preferably, the pack case 300 may be made of a metal material with excellent thermal conductivity to easily dissipate heat. For example, the pack case 300 may be made of aluminum or steel. In addition, an insulating coating layer may be further formed on the inner surface of the pack case 300 to achieve electrical insulation.

[0049] The pack case 300 may further include components for connection to other structures. For example, as shown, a bracket 310 having fastening holes may be provided at the front of the pack case 300. Such components may be used to connect multiple battery packs 100 together, or may be used to connect the battery pack 100 to a device or facility in which it is mounted, such as an automobile chassis or the frame of an energy storage system. Of course, the shape of such components may be modified or omitted.

[0050] The battery pack 100 has a predetermined size in the width direction (X-axis direction, left and right direction), length direction (Y-axis direction, front and back direction), and height direction (Z-axis direction, vertical direction), and has an appearance of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped structure. This appearance of the battery pack 100 can prevent wasted space from being generated when multiple battery packs 100 are densely arranged. In addition, the structure of the pack case 300 is simple, so that the pack case 300 can be manufactured without difficulty.

[0051] 4 shows a refrigerant injection port 171 and a refrigerant discharge port 174 on the outside of the pack case 300. The refrigerant injection port 171 and the refrigerant discharge port 174 are exposed to the outside of the pack case 300 because they need to be connected to the outside in order to supply the refrigerant from the outside to the inside of the battery pack 100 and then discharge it back to the outside of the battery pack 100. A cooling pipe assembly 170 is connected to the refrigerant injection port 171 and the refrigerant discharge port 174. The structure of such cooling-related components is also shown in FIGS. 15 to 17 and will be described in more detail with reference to these drawings.

[0052] 5, the battery pack 100 may further include a BMS 180 and a fuse assembly 210. The cooling pipe assembly 170, the BMS 180, and the fuse assembly 210 may be collectively configured at the front end of the battery pack 100 and arranged so as not to unnecessarily occupy the internal space of the battery pack 100 and reduce the energy density of the battery pack 100. By collectively arranging the cooling pipe assembly 170, the BMS 180, and the fuse assembly 210 at the front end of the battery pack 100, the internal space of the pack case 300 can be allocated mainly to the cell module assemblies. Therefore, the energy density of the battery pack 100 can be increased.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state in which the main internal structures of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention are assembled, and FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

[0054] 6 and 7, the internal structure 200 of the battery pack 100 includes a plurality of pillars 110 and a plurality of steel bars 120. The steel bars 120 are connected between the pillars 110 facing each other. The steel bars 120 are assembled in multiple stages along the height direction of the pillars 110.

[0055] A tray 130 is placed on the steel bar 120 of one stage. Each stage may also include a plurality of trays 130. Preferably, the trays 130 are supported on a horizontal surface by the steel bar 120.

[0056] A plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are mounted on each tray 130. The columns 110 and steel bars 120 may function as a main framework for mounting the cell module assemblies 140. The columns 110, steel bars 120, and trays 130 are designed not to occupy a large volume relative to the cell module assemblies 140, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery pack 100.

[0057] The cell module assembly 140 is an assembly of multiple battery cells. The multiple battery cells can be arranged in one direction within the cell module assembly 140. For example, pouch-type battery cells can be used as the battery cells that make up the cell module assembly 140. Pouch-type battery cells have a shape suitable for maximizing energy density when stacked. However, this does not limit the type of battery cells that can be applied to the present invention, and battery cells of various shapes, such as prismatic cells and cylindrical cells, can be used without limitation as long as they correspond to rechargeable secondary batteries.

[0058] In addition, the plurality of battery cells constituting the cell module assembly 140 may be configured in a stacked configuration in parallel. When pouch-type battery cells are used, the battery cells may be arranged along the X-axis direction in a standing state with the electrode leads extending in the Y-axis direction to form the cell module assembly 140. For example, one cell module assembly 140 may include five or more battery cells. The plurality of battery cells may be electrically connected to each other in series, parallel, or a combination of series and parallel, and the electrical connection may be achieved by connecting the electrode leads of the battery cells with a bus bar or the like.

[0059] The cell module assemblies 140 may be arranged in rows and columns on the tray 130. In the illustrated example, five cell module assemblies 140, each having a length in the Y-axis direction, are arranged in the X-axis direction to form one column, which is repeated in the Y-axis direction to form a five-row, two-column arrangement. Depending on the number of cell module assemblies 140 to be arranged, the size of the tray 130, the number and arrangement of the columns 110, and the resulting number of steel bars 120 can be changed to support an appropriate load.

[0060] Here, a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 seated on the trays 130 of each stage can be connected to form a single battery module 150. That is, the cell module assemblies 140 placed horizontally on one stage can be modularized to form a single unit. Also, the battery modules 150 of each stage can be connected to form a single pack unit. That is, all of the cell module assemblies 140 included in the battery pack 100 can be connected by connecting the battery modules 150 from the bottom to the top. The connections between the cell module assemblies 140 and between the battery modules 150 can be made using appropriate electrical connection members such as cables or bus bars.

[0061] As described above, the battery pack 100 of the present invention is configured by vertically arranging trays 130 supported by steel bars 120 in multiple stages, and connecting a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 seated on the trays 130 in each stage to configure a battery module 150, so that the battery modules 150 can be included in multiple stages inside the battery pack 100. Here, for example, the number of stages of the battery modules 150 is four to six, and in the illustrated example, the number of stages is five.

[0062] As described above, the battery pack 100 is configured such that the battery modules 150 are accommodated in a vertically arranged form inside the pack case 300. Unlike conventional battery modules 150, the battery modules 150 are not enclosed in separate module cases, but are covered only by the pack case 300, as shown in Fig. 4. As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of battery modules 150 are integrated into one pack unit, a module case is omitted, and a case covering the overall structure is ultimately implemented only in the pack unit, thereby simplifying the structure of the battery pack 100, increasing energy density, and reducing material costs.

[0063] According to the present invention, trays 130 and steel bars 120 are arranged in multiple stages inside the battery pack 100, and the cell module assemblies 140 of each stage form one battery module 150, and four to six such battery modules 150 can be combined to form the battery pack 100. This battery pack 100 does not require a separate module case and the battery modules 150 are configured in an integrated manner, improving space utilization.

[0064] 6 and 7, the battery pack 100 may include a base plate 105 that constitutes the lowest stage of the internal structure 200. A plurality of columns 110 may be assembled to such a base plate 105. The base plate 105 serves as a foundation for the columns 110 to stand vertically, and may form a foundation for stacking a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 in the lowest stage.

[0065] The columns 110 are assembled to at least four corners of the base plate 105. Steel bars 120 connect the columns 110 facing each other in the width direction of the battery pack 100 and may be arranged along the length direction of the battery pack 100.

[0066] The number and assembly positions of the pillars 110 can be changed depending on the size of the base plate 105 and the arrangement and number of cell module assemblies 140 mounted on the base plate 105. For example, the pillars 110 are included in n rows and m columns along the width and length directions of the battery pack 100, and the steel bars 120 can be assembled between the pillars 110 in the same column. In the illustrated example, the pillars 110 are included in three columns, and three steel bars 120 are required in the horizontal plane.

[0067] A bar-type top frame 165 having a rectangular cross section may be fastened to the top of the column 110 in parallel with the steel bar 120. The top frame 165 is connected to the upper end of the column 110 on the top cell module assembly 140 by means of bolting or the like, and the stacked structure of the cell module assemblies 140 may be bound together with their left and right sides in surface contact with the column 110 and their top surfaces in surface contact with the top frame 165. This configuration allows the stacked structure of the cell module assemblies 140 to be safely maintained without shaking.

[0068] The pillars 110 have holes 115 drilled at regular intervals along the height direction of the pillars 110, and the steel bars 120 can be inserted into the holes 115 between the opposing pillars 110 to assemble them.

[0069] In the illustrated example, four holes 115 are drilled at regular intervals. If a steel bar 120 is inserted into each hole 115, the steel bars 120 can be provided in a total of four stages.

[0070] The steel bar 120 has a length longer than the distance between the opposing pillars 110, and both ends of the steel bar 120 extending through the multiple holes 115 have the same extension surface as the outer surfaces of the pillars 110 or extend further in the X-axis direction than the outer surfaces of the pillars 110, so that the steel bar 120 can be reliably and stably supported between the pillars 110.

[0071] The tray 130 may include an upper surface 132 and a side wall 134 extending downward from the upper surface 132, and the side wall 134 may have a groove 136 formed therein into which the steel bar 120 is inserted from above to below. By including the upper surface 132 and the side wall 134, the weight is lighter than when the entire tray is configured as a single hexahedral plate, and the groove 136 can be formed in the thin side wall 134 without forming a long groove shaped to fasten to the steel bar 120, resulting in a structure advantageous in terms of reducing manufacturing and material costs.

[0072] The pillars 110 may have a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the height direction. Such pillars 110 are advantageous because they not only do not occupy a large amount of the internal space of the pack case 300, but also allow the area of ​​the portion that comes into contact with the cell module assembly 140 to be relatively large.

[0073] The steel bar 120 may have a circular cross section. The holes 115 and the grooves 136 may be formed to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the steel bar 120. When the steel bar 120 has a circular cross section, no special alignment process is required when inserting the steel bar 120 into the holes 115, and the steel bar 120 can be easily inserted between opposing holes 115 for fastening, improving assembly efficiency. In addition, because the portion of the steel bar 120 that supports the tray 130 is circular, even if a heavy cell module assembly 140 is placed on the tray 130, the resulting load is not concentrated in a narrow area, thereby maintaining structural robustness.

[0074] A plurality of trays 130 constitute each stage. In the illustrated example, the number of stages of the trays 130 is four. The base plate 105 at the bottom stage also forms one stage. Therefore, in this embodiment, the number of stages on which the cell module assemblies 140 can be seated is five.

[0075] A plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are seated in each row. The cell module assemblies 140 may be included in one row in o rows and p columns along the width and length directions of the battery pack 100. In the illustrated example, the cell module assemblies 140 are arranged in 5 rows and 2 columns, with 10 per row, for a total of five rows, resulting in a total of 50 cell module assemblies 140 inside the battery pack 100. Each row of cell module assemblies 140 becomes one battery module 150, so in the illustrated example, there are five rows of battery modules 150.

[0076] According to the present invention, it is easy to manufacture a battery pack 100 to include a desired number of battery modules 150, and the battery capacity can be freely expanded. The width and height areas of the battery pack 100, i.e., the footprint, can be standardized. By increasing the number of battery module 150 levels, the size and capacity of the battery pack 100 can be freely expanded in the height direction.

[0077] The pillars 110 can restrict the forward / backward and left / right movement of one battery module 150, which is formed by connecting one row of cell module assemblies 140. The trays 130 supported by the steel bars 120 can restrict the up / down movement of the battery modules 150. Therefore, even if the battery pack 100 moves, the pillars 110 and the trays 130 can prevent the battery module 150 from moving inside the pack case 300. Because the battery module 150 is quite heavy, even a slight movement can have a significant impact on surrounding components. According to the present invention, the movement of the battery module 150 is prevented, the performance of the battery pack 100 is guaranteed, and the battery pack 100 can be used safely for a long period of time.

[0078] Preferably, a heat sink 160 is further included between the tray 130 and the cell module assembly 140 for each stage. Here, the heat sink 160 refers to an object that absorbs and releases heat from another object through direct or indirect thermal contact. It can be said that such a heat sink 160 is provided as a unit for the battery module 150. The heat sink 160 may be in thermal contact with the battery module 150 and configured to cool the battery module 150. To this end, the heat sink 160 may be made of a metal material having high thermal conductivity and heat resistance. For example, the heat sink 160 may be made of an aluminum alloy material that is lightweight and has excellent thermal conductivity.

[0079] The heat sink 160 can release heat into the surrounding atmosphere (air) or to a refrigerant passing through the heat sink 160. For example, the refrigerant can be water or oil. In this embodiment, a configuration is exemplified in which a cooling pipe assembly 170 connected to the heat sink 160 is further included so that such a refrigerant can be used. To connect to the cooling pipe assembly 170 and enable refrigerant circulation, the heat sink 160 can be provided with an inlet port 163 and an outlet port 166, and a flow path can be provided inside the heat sink 160. The cooling pipe assembly 170 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 15 and the like, and can include an inlet connector 173 for connecting to the inlet port 163 and an outlet connector 176 for connecting to the outlet port 166, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0080] In the battery pack 100, the battery modules 150 are mounted at a vertical distance from each other by approximately the thickness of the tray 130 and the heat sink 160. The thicknesses of the tray 130 and the heat sink 160 can be designed to be minimal. This eliminates wasted space in the vertical direction inside the battery pack 100, allowing multiple battery modules 150 to be mounted in a concentrated manner.

[0081] Here, the pillars 110 and the trays 130 may also be included in the path through which heat moves in the process of dissipating heat generated from the battery module 150, and therefore may be made of a material with excellent thermal conductivity for efficient heat transfer.

[0082] 8 to 14 are views for explaining a method for manufacturing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. From the following description with reference to Figs. 8 to 14, the detailed configuration of the battery pack 100 as well as the manufacturing method of the battery pack 100 will be more easily understood.

[0083] 8, the pillars 110 are assembled to the base plate 105 (step S1). The assembly of the base plate 105 and the pillars 110 can be performed by various methods such as fitting, bolting, bonding, welding, etc.

[0084] As described above, the pillars 110 have a rectangular cross section, and are desirably arranged with the long axis of the cross section facing the battery cell assemblies 140 in order to maximize the area in surface contact with the battery cell assemblies 140. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example has been given in which the battery cell assemblies 140 are arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, and the pillars 110 are arranged in three columns. The number of pillars 110 located in the center column can be made larger than the number of pillars 110 located in the other columns, thereby providing a stronger support base.

[0085] 9, the first heat sink 160 is mounted on the base plate 105 (step S2). Since the heat sink 160 can be assembled from the top of the pillars 110 downward, the shape of the heat sink 160 in the illustrated example must be manufactured to allow the central pillar 110 to pass through. Of course, it is also possible to arrange two heat sinks 160 in one row, avoiding the central pillar 110.

[0086] 10, a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are then placed on a heat sink 160 (step S3). In this step, the cell module assemblies 140 are electrically connected to each other to form a battery module 150.

[0087] Figure 11 is a top view of the assembled state of Figure 10 to schematically show the electrical connection relationships. The cell module assemblies 140 placed on one tier can be connected by appropriate electrical connection means. The direction of current flow between the cell module assemblies 140 can be, for example, the direction shown by the arrows in the figure. One side 144 of one cell module assembly 140 can be connected to the cell module assembly on the tier above it, and one side 146 of the other cell module assembly 140 can be connected to a terminal section so that it can be connected to an external terminal.

[0088] Next, referring to FIG. 12, the steel bars 120 are assembled to the pillars 110, and the trays 130 are seated and supported thereon (step S4).

[0089] 13 and 14 are enlarged views showing the assembled relationship between the steel bar and the tray.

[0090] As described above, the tray 130 includes an upper surface 132, side walls 134, and a recessed groove 136. The tray 130 can be assembled by moving it downward from above the steel bar 120 so that the steel bar 120 is inserted into the recessed groove 136.

[0091] Next, a heat sink 160 is placed on the tray 130, similar to step S2 described with reference to FIG. 9. After that, a plurality of cell module assemblies 140 are placed on top of the heat sink 160, similar to step S3 described with reference to FIG. 10. In this step, these cell module assemblies 140 can be electrically connected. One side 144 of the cell module assembly 140 in the lower tier can be connected to one side of a cell module assembly 140 newly placed on the tray 130, thereby connecting the battery module 150 in the lower tier to the battery module 150 in the second tier. One side of the other cell module assembly 140 in the second tier can also be connected to the cell module assembly in the tier above it.

[0092] Thereafter, the sequence of steps S4, S2 and S3 is repeated for the required number of stages.

[0093] Thereafter, the assembly of other structures such as cooling-related components and the BMS 180 is completed, and the pack case 300 is also assembled, whereby the manufacture of the battery pack 100 can be completed.

[0094] Fig. 15 is an exploded perspective view of another internal structure to be coupled to Fig. 6, and Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the bottom surface of the top cover of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of the front side of Fig. 6, and Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of the rear side of Fig. 6.

[0095] 15 to 18, the battery pack 100 may further include a cooling pipe assembly 170 that supplies a coolant to each of the heat sinks 160 and collects the coolant from each of the heat sinks 160.

[0096] As described above, by disposing the cooling pipe assembly 170 at the front end of the battery pack 100, space utilization can be improved.

[0097] The cooling pipe assembly 170 may include a refrigerant injection port 171 for injecting a refrigerant from outside the battery pack 100, a refrigerant injection pipe 172 connected to the refrigerant injection port 171, and an injection side connector 173 for connecting the refrigerant injection pipe 172 to each injection port 163 of the heat sink 160. The cooling pipe assembly 170 may also include a refrigerant discharge port 174 for discharging the refrigerant to the outside of the battery pack 100, a refrigerant discharge pipe 175 connected to the refrigerant discharge port 174, and a discharge side connector 176 for connecting the refrigerant discharge pipe 175 to each discharge port 166 of the heat sink 160.

[0098] The refrigerant inlet port 171 and the refrigerant outlet port 174 may be located at the center of the upper portion of the front end portion in the longitudinal direction of the battery pack 100. The refrigerant inlet port 171 and the refrigerant outlet port 174 may be exposed to the outside of the pack case 300, as shown in FIG. 4 . The refrigerant inlet port 171 and the refrigerant inlet pipe 172 inject the refrigerant into the heat sink 160 at approximately the center of the battery pack 100. The refrigerant inlet pipe 172 may branch out from one refrigerant inlet port 171 to both sides and be connected to each heat sink 160. Generally, since heat tends to accumulate in the center of the battery pack 100 and become high temperature, it is advantageous to concentrate a low-temperature refrigerant in this manner to achieve cooling in the center of the battery pack 100. The refrigerant from each heat sink 160 flows into the refrigerant discharge pipe 175 from the discharge ports 166 on both sides of the heat sink 160 via the discharge side connector 176, and the refrigerant discharge pipes 175 on both sides are integrated and connected to a single refrigerant discharge port 174, so that the refrigerant can be smoothly discharged outside the battery pack 100.

[0099] A BMS 180 may further be included inside the pack case 300 between the refrigerant injection pipe 172 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 175. The BMS 180 may be configured to measure the current and temperature of the battery cells in the battery pack 100 and control the charging and discharging of the battery cells. By disposing the BMS 180 between the refrigerant injection pipe 172 and the refrigerant discharge pipe 175, the space utilization inside the battery pack 100 can be maximized.

[0100] The tray 130 and the heat sink 160 extend further toward the front end of the battery pack 100 than the cell module assembly 140, and the inlet port 163 and the outlet port 166 may be located in the extended portion of the heat sink 160. By assembling the cooling pipe assembly 170 to the inlet port 163 and the outlet port 166 located in such positions, a compact structure can be achieved without occupying much of the internal space of the battery pack 100. Furthermore, by integrating the BMS 180 in the empty space between the refrigerant inlet pipe 172 and the refrigerant outlet pipe 175, the energy density of the battery pack 100 can also be improved. Other electrical components, such as the fuse assembly 210, may also be located at the front end of the battery pack 100 adjacent to the BMS 180.

[0101] Additionally, the cell module assemblies 140 can be connected to each other by electrical connection members 190, 195. The electrical connection members 190, 195 can be cables or flexible bus bars.

[0102] For example, a first electrical connection member 190 extending from the lowest cell module assembly 140 at the rear end of the battery pack 100 may be connected to a first terminal portion 410 of the top cover 400, and a second electrical connection member 195 extending from the highest cell module assembly 140 at the front end of the battery pack 100 in the longitudinal direction may extend to the bottom of the top cover 400 and be connected to a second terminal portion 415 of the top cover 400.

[0103] Furthermore, the fuse assembly 210 may be connected to, for example, the second electrical connection member 195. The fuse assembly 210 is a component including a relay, a resistor, etc., and functions to stably supply or cut off battery power to a device or equipment in which the battery pack 100 is used, and to protect the power system of the associated device or equipment when a fault current occurs. According to the present invention, the fuse assembly 210 is provided, but is efficiently arranged in the available space at the front end of the battery pack 100, thereby saving space.

[0104] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an energy storage system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 19, an energy storage system 500 may include at least one battery pack 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] There may be provided at least one or more battery packs 100. In the following, the present embodiment will be described only in the case where a plurality of battery packs 100 are provided.

[0107] When including multiple battery packs 100, the energy storage system 500 may further include a frame 510. A bracket 310 such as that described with reference to FIG. 4 may be used to connect the battery packs 100 to the frame 510.

[0108] The frame 510 is for accommodating a plurality of battery packs 100 and may have an accommodating space for accommodating a plurality of battery packs 100 .

[0109] The battery packs 100 can be electrically connected to each other via a rack bus bar (not shown). The energy storage system 500 according to the present invention can be realized in various forms, such as a smart grid system or an electric charging station.

[0110] According to the present invention, the battery modules 150 are already configured in multiple stages inside the battery pack 100. Therefore, it is easy to design the energy storage system 500 by arranging or stacking such battery packs 100. Compared to the conventional case where battery racks are designed to be integrated, the assembly process can be minimized.

[0111] The energy storage system 500 according to the present invention can be shipped and transported in an assembled state after the battery pack 100 is assembled to the frame 510, and then installed at the installation site. Alternatively, the frame 510 and the battery pack 100 can be transported and then assembled at the installation site.

[0112] The challenge of ESS is shifting to minimizing on-site work. This increases the need to ship battery packs after they are installed in rack cases. However, transportable rack systems face the difficult challenge of preventing deformation and damage to components due to vibration during transport.

[0113] According to the present invention, the internal structure of the battery pack 100 can be stably supported by the columns 110, the tray 130, and the pack case 300. Therefore, movement of the internal structure, such as the cell module assembly 140, inside the battery pack 100 is minimized, thereby reducing the impact of transportation (vibration). After transportation of the battery pack 100 is completed, when it is necessary to install the energy storage system 500 at the installation site, the installation work can be performed simply and quickly. Because the battery modules 150 are concentrated inside the battery pack 100, the energy storage system 700 can be constructed efficiently in a short time. As such, the battery pack 100 of the present invention is easy to transport and the assembly process at the installation site is simple, so that it is convenient enough that conversion to a transportable rack system is not necessary, and the energy storage system 500 can be realized at a lower cost.

[0114] Meanwhile, although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the present invention that such terms are used for the convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0115] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto, and 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 equivalent scope of the claims set forth below. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 100: Battery pack 105: Base plate 110: Pillar 115: Hole 120: Steel bar 130: Tray 136: Groove 140: Cell module assembly 150: Battery module 160: Heat sink 165: Top frame 170: Cooling pipe assembly 171: Refrigerant injection port 172: Refrigerant injection pipe 173: Injection side connector 174: Refrigerant discharge port 175: Refrigerant discharge pipe 176: Discharge side connector 180:BMS 190, 195: Electrical connection members 200: Internal structure 300: Pack case 310: Bracket 400: Top cover 410: Terminal 1 415: Terminal 2 500: Energy storage system 510: Frame

Claims

1. Several pillars and A plurality of steel bars that connect opposing columns among the columns and are assembled in multiple stages along the height direction of the columns; A plurality of trays each configured as a stage mounted on the steel bar; a plurality of cell module assemblies mounted on trays at respective stages; and

2. A plurality of cell module assemblies mounted on each tray are connected to form one battery module, The battery pack according to claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connection member connecting between the battery modules of each stage.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2 , wherein the battery modules are not enclosed in a separate module case, and the battery pack further includes a pack case for protecting an internal structure.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3 , wherein the pack case includes a box-shaped housing having an open top surface.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the tray is supported on a horizontal surface by the steel bar.

6. The battery pack further includes a base plate constituting a bottom stage, The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the posts are assembled to the base plate.

7. 7. The battery pack according to claim 6, wherein the pillars are assembled to at least four corners of the base plate, and the steel bars connect between pillars facing each other in a width direction of the battery pack and are arranged along a length direction of the battery pack.

8. 8. The battery pack according to claim 7, wherein the pillars have holes formed at regular intervals along a height direction of the pillars, and the steel bars are assembled by being inserted into the holes between opposing pillars.

9. 6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the tray includes an upper surface and a side wall extending downward from the upper surface, the side wall having a groove formed therein into which the steel bar is inserted from above to below.

10. 6. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the pillars are arranged in n rows and m columns along the width and length directions of the battery pack, the steel bars are assembled between the pillars in the same column, and a bar-type top frame having a rectangular cross section is fastened to the top of the pillars in parallel to the steel bars.

11. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the pillars have a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the height direction, and the steel bars have a circular cross section.

12. The battery pack according to claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink between the tray and the cell module assembly for each stage.

13. The battery pack according to claim 12 , further comprising a cooling pipe assembly that supplies a coolant to each of the heat sinks and collects a coolant from each of the heat sinks.

14. The battery pack according to claim 13 , wherein the cooling pipe assembly is located at a front end of the battery pack in the longitudinal direction.

15. 15. The battery pack of claim 14, wherein the cooling pipe assembly includes: a coolant injection port for injecting a coolant from outside the battery pack; a coolant injection pipe connected to the coolant injection port; an injection side connector for connecting the coolant injection pipe to each of the heat sinks; a coolant discharge port for discharging the coolant to the outside of the battery pack; a coolant discharge pipe connected to the coolant discharge port; and a discharge side connector for connecting the coolant discharge pipe to each of the heat sinks.

16. 16. The battery pack of claim 15, wherein the refrigerant inlet port and the refrigerant outlet port are located at an upper center of a front end portion of the battery pack in a longitudinal direction, and a BMS is further included between the refrigerant inlet pipe and the refrigerant outlet pipe.

17. 17. The battery pack according to claim 16, wherein the tray and the heat sink extend further toward a front end of the battery pack in a longitudinal direction than the cell module assembly, and the inlet connector and the outlet connector are located in an extended portion of the heat sink.

18. The battery pack according to claim 1 , wherein the cell module assemblies are connected to each other by electrical connection members.

19. The battery pack according to claim 10 , further comprising a top cover that covers an uppermost cell module assembly on the top frame.

20. 20. The battery pack according to claim 19, wherein a first electrical connection member extending from a lowermost cell module assembly at a rear end in the length direction of the battery pack connects to a first terminal portion of the top cover, and a second electrical connection member extending from an uppermost cell module assembly at a front end in the length direction of the battery pack extends from a lower portion of the top cover and connects to a second terminal portion of the top cover.

21. The trays are supported by steel bars and arranged in multiple vertical rows. A battery module is formed by connecting a plurality of cell module assemblies mounted on trays on each stage. A battery pack may include the battery modules in multiple stages.

22. 22. The battery pack according to claim 21, wherein the battery modules are not enclosed in a separate module case, and the battery pack further includes a pack case for protecting an internal structure.

23. The battery pack according to claim 21, wherein the number of stages of the battery modules is 4 to 6.

24. 24. An energy storage system comprising at least one battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and 21 to 23.

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