Battery module, battery pack including same, and automobile

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module including a plurality of battery cells, at least one blocking member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells, a module case configured to house the plurality of battery cells and the blocking member, and a fixing portion provided on one side of the module case and configured to fix the blocking member.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a battery module capable of suppressing heat transfer within the battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0090620, filed on July 12, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which are easy to apply 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 are attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency because they do not produce any by-products from energy use, in addition to their main advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels.

[0004] Currently, widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. When a high output voltage is required, a battery module or a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in series. To increase the charge / discharge capacity, a battery module or a battery pack may be configured by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery module or pack may be varied depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] However, because battery cells undergo chemical reactions during charging and discharging, their performance may deteriorate if they are used in an environment that is higher than the appropriate temperature. Furthermore, if the temperature is not thermally controlled to the appropriate level, there is a risk of unexpected fire or explosion. Furthermore, battery modules are constructed by concentrating these battery cells inside a module housing. Therefore, if a thermal event occurs in one battery cell, the emitted high-temperature gases and flames can spread to adjacent battery cells, potentially causing a chain reaction of battery cell explosions, creating a very dangerous situation.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to develop a structure that can suppress and delay heat propagation by reliably separating the battery cells so that even if a thermal event occurs in some battery cells within a battery module, gas, flame, etc. can be prevented from propagating to other battery cells within the battery module and causing thermal runaway. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that can effectively prevent or delay the propagation of thermal runaway between battery cells by reliably separating the battery cells into compartments.

[0008] Another problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery pack and a vehicle including such a battery module.

[0009] 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]

[0010] In order to solve the above problem, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells, at least one blocking member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells, a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the blocking member, and a fixing portion provided on one side of the module case and configured to fix the blocking member.

[0011] The fixing portion may be configured so that one end of the blocking member is inserted therein.

[0012] At least one battery cell is positioned between adjacent blocking members, and the blocking member extends beyond the battery cell and is inserted into the fixing portion, thereby allowing an airtight space to be formed by the adjacent blocking members and the fixing portion.

[0013] The fixing portion may be configured to extend along the length of the blocking member.

[0014] The fixing portion may include a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion disposed to face each other, and one end of the blocking member may be inserted between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

[0015] The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may each be provided to protrude from one surface of the module case, and a distance between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be smaller than a thickness of the blocking member.

[0016] The distance between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be configured to increase along a direction in which the first fixing portion protrudes from the module case.

[0017] The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may include a rounded surface provided to contact an upper end of the blocking member.

[0018] The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may include an inclined surface provided such that a corner thereof contacts an upper end of the blocking member.

[0019] The module case may include a top plate forming an upper surface of the module case, and the fixing portion may be provided on a bottom surface of the top plate and configured to fix an upper end of the blocking member.

[0020] The blocking member may be provided in a plurality of positions along one direction, and the top plate may have a plurality of vent holes formed therein, the vent holes being positioned between adjacent blocking members and configured to allow gas generated in the battery cells to be discharged.

[0021] The fixing portion may be provided between adjacent ones of the vent holes and may be provided in plural along the one direction.

[0022] The fixing portion may be integrally formed with the top plate.

[0023] The fixing portion may be a groove formed by recessing at least a portion of the top plate.

[0024] The battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell having sealing portions on three of its four sides, and the battery cell is housed in the module case in an upright position with the side that does not include the sealing portion facing downward, and the blocking member may extend above the battery cell and be fixed to the fixing portion.

[0025] The present invention also provides a battery pack including the battery module according to the present invention.

[0026] The present invention also provides a vehicle including a battery pack according to the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, by reliably separating the battery cells in a battery module, even if a thermal event occurs in some battery cells in the battery module, it is possible to effectively prevent or delay the propagation of gas, flame, or the like to other battery cells in the battery module and causing thermal runaway, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery module.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, high-temperature gases and flames generated in battery cells within a battery module can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the battery module.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent or delay events, such as fires and explosions, caused by thermal runaway phenomena in battery packs including multiple battery modules or devices equipped with the battery packs.

[0030] The present invention has various other effects, which will be described in each embodiment, or effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will not be described here.

[0031] 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]

[0032] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a bottom perspective view of a top plate included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' of FIG. 1, showing the direction in which gas and the like are discharged when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module. [Figure 5] 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' of FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a YZ cross-sectional view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 5 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 4, illustrating the structure of a fixing part included in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a structure of a fixing part included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a structure of a fixing part included in a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and phrases used in the specification and claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary and 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 describe the invention.

[0034] Therefore, it should be understood that the configurations shown in the embodiments described in this specification are merely the most desirable 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.

[0035] The present invention includes many different embodiments, and the following description will focus on the differences and omit redundant explanations of substantially the same or similar configurations among the embodiments.

[0036] Meanwhile, in the present invention, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such terms are used for the convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the target object, the position of the observer, etc.

[0037] For example, in an embodiment of the present invention, the X-axis direction shown in the drawings may refer to the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction may refer to the front-back direction perpendicular to the X-axis direction on a horizontal plane (XY plane), i.e., the length direction of the battery cell, and the Z-axis direction may refer to the up-down direction (vertical direction) perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, i.e., the height direction of the battery cell.

[0038] Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a top plate included in the battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II' of Fig. 1, illustrating the direction in which gas and the like are discharged when the battery module experiences thermal runaway.

[0039] 1 to 4, a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell 100, a blocking member 200, a module case 300, and a fixing part 400.

[0040] A plurality of the battery cells 100 may be provided. The plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked in one direction. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the plurality of battery cells 100 may be stacked along the left-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0041] The plurality of battery cells 100 may be pouch-type secondary batteries. The plurality of battery cells 100 may include an electrode assembly and a cell case 110 that houses the electrode assembly. The cell case 110 may house the electrode assembly in a housing, and a frame around the housing may be heat-sealed to form a seal. The seal may be provided on three of the four sides of the battery cell 100.

[0042] Furthermore, each of the battery cells 100 may include an electrode lead 120. The electrode lead 120 may be connected to the electrode assembly and may be drawn out of the cell casing 110 to function as an electrode terminal.

[0043] The electrode leads 120 are provided in pairs, and the pair of electrode leads 120 may be drawn out from both ends of the battery cell 100, i.e., in the length direction (±Y direction). In this case, the pair of electrode leads 120 may be a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead. If necessary, the battery cell 100 may have a shape in which the two electrode leads 120 are located only at one end in the Y-axis direction, for example, at an end in the +Y-axis direction.

[0044] The battery cell 100 may be installed in an upright state with the surface not including the sealing portion facing downward. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of battery cells 100 may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) while standing vertically (Z-axis direction). In this case, the sealing portion of each battery cell 100 may face the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction) and the up-down direction (Z-axis direction), and the storage portion may face the left-right direction (X-axis direction). By arranging the battery cells 100 in this manner, it is easy to control the vent direction to one side, and edge cooling can be performed via the surface not including the sealing portion to ensure cooling performance.

[0045] The present invention is not limited to a specific type or shape of the battery cell 100, and various battery cells 100 known at the time of filing of the present invention may be employed. In this embodiment, a pouch-type secondary battery having high energy density and easy stacking is targeted as shown in the drawing, but it goes without saying that a cylindrical or prismatic secondary battery may also be applied to the battery cell 100.

[0046] The battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include an interrupting member 200. The interrupting member 200 may be provided between the battery cells 100 and configured to separate the plurality of battery cells 100. In particular, at least one interrupting member 200 may be included in one battery module 10. A plurality of the interrupting members 200 may be provided along one direction in which the battery cells 100 are arranged.

[0047] The blocking member 200 may be provided so as to be disposed for at least one battery cell 100. Thus, the plurality of battery cells 100 and the blocking members 200 provided therebetween may form one cell stack C.

[0048] The blocking member 200 may be provided as a heat insulating pad having a thickness thinner than that of the battery cell 100. The blocking member 200 may be made of a material having excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance. Alternatively, the blocking member 200 may be in the form of a pad having compressive force, for example, made of a material such as silicon or aerogel.

[0049] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the battery cells 100 are partitioned or separated, and it is possible to prevent gas, flame, etc. from propagating from the blocking member 200 to other adjacent blocking members 200. Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member 200 compresses the battery cell 100 when a swelling phenomenon occurs in the battery cell 100, thereby contributing to the structural rigidity of the battery cell 100.

[0050] 2, the module case 300 may be configured to accommodate a plurality of battery cells 100 and a blocking member 200, i.e., a cell stack C. Specifically, the module case 300 may be configured to have an internal space formed therein, and to accommodate the plurality of battery cells 100 and the blocking member 200 in the internal space.

[0051] Specifically, the module case 300 may include a case body 310. For example, the case body 310 may be provided as a U-frame. When provided as a U-frame, the case body 310 may be provided to cover both side surfaces and a bottom surface of the cell stack C. The case body 310 may include a left plate and a right plate covering both side surfaces of the cell stack C, and a bottom plate covering the bottom surface of the cell stack C. The left plate, the right plate, and the bottom plate may be integrally formed with one another. In this case, the top surface and the front and rear surfaces of the case body 310 may be open. The case body 310 may be made of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance to physically and chemically protect the accommodated battery cells 100.

[0052] The case body 310 may be configured so that the cell stack C can be inserted into it in one direction. For example, the cell stack C can be inserted into it in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). That is, the case body 310 may be configured so that the cell stack C can be inserted into it in a sliding manner.

[0053] The module case 300 may further include a top plate 320. The top plate 320 may be provided to form an upper surface of the module case 300. When the case body 310 is provided as a U-frame, the top plate 320 may be coupled to the open upper surface of the case body 310. The top plate 320 may be coupled to the case body 310 by welding. In this case, the coupled shape of the top plate 320 and the case body 310 may be a rectangular tube shape with open front and rear surfaces.

[0054] Meanwhile, the module case 300 may include end plates 330 provided on the open front and rear surfaces of the case body 310. The end plates 330 may be welded to the case body 310. Although not shown for convenience, the end plates 330 may have an inner surface made of an insulating material and an outer surface made of a metal material. In addition, the end plates 330 may have holes or slits partially formed therein to expose components that need to be exposed to the outside, such as the positive and negative terminals or connectors of the battery module 10.

[0055] Alternatively, the module case 300 may be formed in various other forms. For example, the module case 300 may include a box-shaped lower case having an open upper end and an upper cover that closes the open upper end of the lower case. In this case, the lower case may be provided with a left side plate and a right side plate that cover both sides of the cell stack C, and a front plate and a rear plate that cover the front and rear of the cell stack C, all of which are integrated into one body.

[0056] Alternatively, the module case 300 may be provided as a monoframe. For example, the case body 310 may be configured as a rectangular tube having an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side, with the front and rear sides open. Using such a module case 300 including a monoframe, the cell stack C and the bus bar frame assembly 500 may be assembled and inserted into the monoframe using an interference fit, and the battery module 10 may be assembled by connecting end plates 330 to both open ends of the monoframe. Due to the interference fit, there may be little gaps between the lower surface and top plate 320 of the case body 310 and the battery cells 100, and there may also be little gaps between both side surfaces of the case body 310 and both sides of the battery cells 100.

[0057] 3, the top plate 320 may have a vent hole H formed therein. The vent hole H may be provided to discharge vent gas generated in the battery cell 100 to the outside of the module case 300. The vent hole H is formed in the module case 300, allowing directional venting in one direction.

[0058] 3, a vent hole H is formed in the top plate 320, and directional venting of the battery module 10 upward is possible through the vent hole H. Specifically, a plurality of the vent holes H may be provided, and may be spaced apart at regular intervals in the horizontal direction (X-axis and Y-axis directions).

[0059] The plurality of vent holes H may be located between adjacent blocking members 200 among the plurality of blocking members 200 arranged in one direction.

[0060] In other words, the vent hole H may be provided on the top of at least one battery cell 100 provided between adjacent blocking members 200. For example, as shown in Fig. 3, in a battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a blocking member 200 is disposed for every two battery cells 100, and a plurality of vent holes H may be formed in a row along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery cells 100 on the top of the battery cells 100 provided between the blocking members 200.

[0061] As described above, the vent holes H provided in the top plate 320 can be provided to allow gases and flames generated inside the battery module 10 to be discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 when thermal runaway occurs in the battery module 10. The remaining parts of the module case 300 except for the vent holes H are sealed, allowing the gases and flames to be discharged in a straight line toward the vent holes H.

[0062] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, even if a thermal event occurs at any position of the battery cell 100, gas or flame generated in the battery cell 100 is discharged to the outside of the battery module 10 through a specific vent hole H provided at the top of the battery cell 100, thereby enabling smooth venting.

[0063] Meanwhile, referring to Fig. 2, the battery module 10 of the present invention may further include a bus bar frame assembly 500. The bus bar frame assembly 500 may be provided inside the module case 300 and configured to cover at least one side of the cell stack C. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, the bus bar frame assembly 500 may be coupled to the front and rear of the cell stack C.

[0064] The bus bar frame assembly 500 may include a bus bar frame 510 and a plurality of bus bars 520. The bus bar frame 510 may be provided to be coupled to approximately the front and rear of the cell stack C. The bus bar frame 510 may have slits that allow the electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 to be drawn out in the +Y-axis or -Y-axis direction. The bus bar frame 510 may be formed of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic material, and may be configured to allow the bus bars 520 to be attached to its outer surface.

[0065] In addition, the bus bar frame 510 can be connected to the front or rear of the cell stack C in a manner that allows for a tight fit.

[0066] Meanwhile, the plurality of bus bars 520 are means for connecting the battery cells 100 in series and / or parallel, and may be made of a metal material such as copper, aluminum, or nickel, and may be provided in a rod shape. The electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 pass through slits in the bus bar frame 510 and are pulled out to the outside of the bus bar frame 510, and the pulled-out portions may be attached to the surfaces of the bus bars 520 by welding or the like. The battery cells 100 can be connected in series and / or parallel by welding the electrode leads 120 of the battery cells 100 to the bus bars 520 at the front and rear of the cell stack C, respectively, in a predetermined pattern.

[0067] In this embodiment, referring to FIG. 2, the module case 300 has an internal space for accommodating the cell stack C and the bus bar frame assembly 500 and for protecting the cell stack C from the outside.

[0068] Meanwhile, taking into consideration ease of assembly and assembly tolerances, one surface of the module case 300 and the blocking member 200 may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance. In this case, if a thermal event occurs in one battery cell 100, vent gas or flame may spread to another adjacent battery cell 100 through the gap formed between the blocking member 200 and the module case 300. Even if no gap is formed between the blocking member 200 and one surface of the module case 300, if there is no additional device to fix the blocking member 200, the pressure of the vent gas or flame may cause bending deformation in the blocking member 200, causing the blocking member 200 to move left or right. As a result, a gap may form between the blocking member 200 and the module case 300, and vent gas may spread to another adjacent battery cell 100 through the gap.

[0069] Therefore, the battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention may be provided with a fixing part 400. Referring to Fig. 4, the fixing part 400 may be provided in the module case 300 and configured to fix the blocking member 200. The fixing part 400 may be formed of a material with excellent heat resistance and / or fire resistance, and configured to maintain an airtight structure even under high heat and pressure. For example, the fixing part 400 may be formed of a fire-resistant plastic material.

[0070] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the battery cells 100 can be reliably separated by minimizing the space between the module case 300 and the blocking member 200. As a result, when a thermal event occurs in a battery cell 100, vent gas, flames, etc. are prevented from spreading to adjacent battery cells 100, thereby ensuring the safety and reliability of the battery module 10.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member 200 is fixed to the module case 300 by the fixing portion 400, thereby suppressing bending deformation of the blocking member 200. Even if a thermal event occurs, the possibility that the resulting high-temperature, high-pressure vent gas or flame will push out the blocking member 200 and propagate to other battery cells 100 can be reduced. As a result, when thermal runaway propagation occurs in the battery module 10, thermal runaway propagation between the battery cells 100 can be effectively prevented or delayed.

[0072] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a YZ cross-sectional view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] The fixing portion 400 may be configured to receive one end of the blocking member 200. The number of fixing portions 400 may correspond to the number of blocking members 200. In this case, the blocking member 200 may be provided to extend further in the vertical direction than the battery cells 100. That is, the vertical height of the blocking member 200 may be greater than the vertical height of the battery cells 100. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, since the blocking member 200 is inserted into the fixing portion 400 and supported on both sides, it is possible to prevent one end of the blocking member 200 from moving in the left-right direction. This allows for more reliable separation between the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0074] 4 and 5, when the blocking member 200 is inserted into and fixed to the fixing portion 400, an airtight space S can be formed between adjacent blocking members 200 among the plurality of blocking members 200 and the fixing portion 400. Here, airtightness is a concept meaning restriction of movement of vent gas between adjacent battery cells 100 in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) across one blocking member 200. The airtight space S is provided to communicate with the vent hole H, and can be provided so that gas generated in the battery cell 100 is guided and discharged only to the vent hole H without moving toward other battery cells 100.

[0075] In this case, a plurality of fixing portions 400 may be provided along one direction. The one direction may be defined as a direction in which the blocking member 200 and the battery cells 100 are stacked, i.e., a left-right direction (X-axis direction). The fixing portions 400 may be provided between adjacent vent holes H among the plurality of vent holes H. Gas or flames emitted from the battery cells 100 accommodated between adjacent blocking members 200 may be discharged to the outside of the module case 300 only through the vent holes H located between the adjacent blocking members 200 by the fixing portions 400.

[0076] 6, the fixing portion 400 may be configured to extend along the length direction (Y-axis direction) of the blocking member 200. The fixing portion 400 may be provided to have the same shape or length as the blocking member 200. The length of the fixing portion 400 may be provided to correspond to the length of the blocking member 200. As a result, both sides of the battery cell 100 are blocked by the fixing portion 400 and the blocking member 200, thereby preventing the movement of gas and the like.

[0077] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, an airtight space S is formed by the blocking member 200 and the fixing part 400, and vent gas and the like can be discharged in one targeted direction, for example, in the direction of the vent hole H (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4). That is, since the entire periphery of the vent hole H is blocked, directional venting of gas in the upward direction can be more effectively guided. If gas generated inside the battery module 10 were to be discharged in multiple directions, it would take a long time to discharge the vent gas, which could significantly reduce the safety of the battery module 10. However, according to the present embodiment, the vent gas is quickly guided to the vent hole H, preventing it from spreading in all directions from the inside of the module case 300.

[0078] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of portion A in Fig. 4, illustrating the structure of a fixing part included in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 8 is a view illustrating the structure of a fixing part included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 9 is a view illustrating the structure of a fixing part included in a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0079] 7 to 9, the fixing portion 400 may be provided on the bottom surface of the top plate 320 and configured to fix the upper end of the blocking member 200. The fixing portion 400 is located inside the battery module 10, and therefore does not increase the height of the battery module 10 or change the appearance of the battery module 10. In addition, the fixing portion 400 may be disposed in an empty space within the battery module 10 so as not to affect the energy density of the battery module 10.

[0080] In this case, one surface of the module case 300, i.e., the top plate 320 and the blocking member 200, may be arranged to contact each other. Referring to Fig. 7, the blocking member 200 may be arranged to extend further upward than the battery cell 100, and the upper end of the blocking member 200 may be inserted into the fixing part 400. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the gap between the blocking member 200 and the top plate 320 is minimized, thereby reducing the space through which vent gas can flow and preventing thermal runaway propagation to other adjacent battery cells 100.

[0081] The structure of the fixing portion 400 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 7. The fixing portion 400 may include a first fixing portion 400a and a second fixing portion 400b that are disposed to face each other. The first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may each be provided to protrude from one surface of the module case 300. For example, as shown in Fig. 6, the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be provided to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the top plate 320. The protruding lengths of the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be the same.

[0082] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b are not formed integrally, and the distance w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b near the top plate 320 is set to a predetermined size. Therefore, even if the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b deform, the entire structure does not distort, and the deformation stress can be absorbed to maintain structural robustness.

[0083] One end of the blocking member 200 may be inserted between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b. At this time, the distance w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be set to be smaller than the thickness w2 of the blocking member 200 (w1 <w2)。

[0084] As a result, one end of the blocking member 200 can be configured to be tightly fitted between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the blocking member 200 in the left-right direction is further suppressed, and the arrangement of the battery cell 100 and the blocking member 200 can be stably maintained.

[0085] 7 and 8, the distance w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b may be configured to increase along the direction of protrusion from the module case 300. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, one end of the blocking member 200 may be fixed below the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the distance w1 between the first fixing portion 400a and the second fixing portion 400b increases along the direction of protrusion from the module case 300, and the blocking member 200 can be stably inserted between the increasing distance.

[0086] The first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b may be formed in the form of two processed block-shaped structures. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b may include rounded surfaces 410 that are provided to contact the upper end of the blocking member 200. The first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b may form the rounded surfaces 410 by rounding the corners of the opposing block surfaces. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the blocking member 200 is in contact between the rounded surfaces 410, so that the blocking member 200 can be stably inserted into the fixing portions 400.

[0087] 8, the first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b may include an inclined surface 420 provided to contact the upper end of the blocking member 200. The inclined surface 420 may be formed by chamfering a portion of the block surface of the first and second fixing portions 400a and 400b facing each other. According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the inclined surface 420 and the apex of the blocking member 200 contact each other, so that a pressing force may be applied to each other. As a result, when gas pressure is applied to the blocking member 200, the fixing force between the blocking member 200 and the fixing portion 400 may be further improved.

[0088] The first fixing portion 222a and the second fixing portion 222b may be fabricated as separate structures from the top plate 220 and may be attached to the top plate 220 by bonding, inserting, or bolting. Alternatively, the first fixing portion 222a and the second fixing portion 222b may be formed integrally with the top plate 220.

[0089] 9, the fixing part 400 may be integrally formed with the top plate 320. That is, the fixing part 400 may be integrally provided on the bottom surface of the top plate 320.

[0090] Specifically, the top plate 320 may be manufactured by extrusion so that the fixing portion 400 is integrally provided with the top plate 320. By manufacturing the top plate 320 by extrusion, the fixing portion 400 may be formed to extend linearly along the extrusion direction (Y direction in FIG. 9).

[0091] According to the above-described embodiment of the present invention, since the fixing part 400 is integrally provided on the top plate 320, the process of connecting the fixing part 400 to the top plate 320 is omitted, and defects at the connecting portion between the fixing part 400 and the top plate 320 can be minimized.

[0092] In this case, the fixing portion 400 may be provided as a groove G formed by recessing at least a portion of the top plate 320. The blocking member 200 may be inserted into the groove G. In this case, the upper end of the blocking member 200 may be tightly fitted into the groove G without any gap.

[0093] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the end of the blocking member 200 is inserted into the groove G of the top plate 320, which further improves the fixing force of the blocking member 200. In particular, when vent gas is generated from a specific battery cell 100, the blocking member 200 can be prevented from moving in the left-right direction due to the internal pressure of the vent gas.

[0094] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a stable sealing force can be ensured between the end of the blocking member 200 and the fixing portion 400 of the top plate 320. Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the blocking member 200 can further improve the performance of preventing heat transmission between the cells, and the arrangement of the battery cells 100 and the blocking member 200 can be stably maintained.

[0095] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack including a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0096] 10, a battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention as described above. The battery pack 1 according to the present invention may further include a battery management system (BMS) for integrally controlling the charging and discharging of the one or more battery modules, a current sensor, a fuse, etc., and a pack case 2 for accommodating the above-mentioned components.

[0097] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] 11, an automobile 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more of the battery pack 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention or the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The automobile 3 according to the present invention may be, for example, an electric vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The automobile 3 includes a four-wheeled vehicle and a two-wheeled vehicle. The automobile 3 operates by receiving power from the battery pack 1 or the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0099] 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.

Claims

1. a plurality of battery cells; At least one blocking member configured to separate the plurality of battery cells; a module case configured to accommodate the plurality of battery cells and the interrupting member; a fixing portion provided on one surface of the module case and configured to fix the blocking member; Including a battery module.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion is configured to receive one end of the blocking member.

3. At least one battery cell is located between adjacent blocking members, the interrupting member extends beyond the battery cell and is inserted into the fixing portion, The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein an airtight space is thereby formed by the blocking member and the fixing portion that are adjacent to each other.

4. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion is configured to extend along a length direction of the blocking member.

5. The fixing portion is The fixing device includes a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion that are provided to face each other, The battery module of claim 1 , wherein one end of the blocking member is inserted between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion.

6. The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are each provided to protrude from one surface of the module case, The battery module of claim 5 , wherein a distance between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is smaller than a thickness of the blocking member.

7. The battery module of claim 6 , wherein the distance between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion increases along a direction protruding from the module case.

8. The battery module of claim 7 , wherein the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion include rounded surfaces provided to contact an upper end of the blocking member.

9. The battery module of claim 5 , wherein the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion include an inclined surface provided to contact an upper end of the blocking member.

10. The module case includes: a top plate forming an upper surface of the module case; The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion is provided on a bottom surface of the top plate and configured to fix an upper end of the blocking member.

11. The blocking member is provided in a plurality of positions along one direction, The battery module of claim 10 , wherein the top plate has a plurality of vent holes formed therein, the vent holes being positioned between the adjacent blocking members and configured to allow gas generated in the battery cells to be discharged.

12. The battery module according to claim 11 , wherein the fixing portion is provided between adjacent ones of the vent holes and a plurality of fixing portions are provided along the one direction.

13. The battery module according to claim 10 , wherein the fixing portion is integrally formed with the top plate.

14. The battery module according to claim 13 , wherein the fixing portion is a groove formed by recessing at least a portion of the top plate.

15. the battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell having seal portions on three of four sides, the battery cell is accommodated in the module case in an upright state with the side not including the sealing portion facing downward; The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the blocking member extends above the battery cell and is fixed to the fixing portion.

16. A battery pack comprising at least one battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. 17. A motor vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 16.

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