Devices containing battery packs

Abstract

The device of the present invention includes a battery pack including a lower frame in which a battery module is housed and an upper cover that covers the lower frame, a device housing positioned on the battery pack, and a smoke-control boundary wall disposed between the battery pack and the device housing.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0181725, filed December 14, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Technical Field The present invention relates to a device including a battery pack, and more particularly to a device including a battery pack that can suppress thermal runaway. [Background technology]

[0003] As a solution to air pollution caused by existing gasoline-powered vehicles that use fossil fuels, development of rechargeable secondary batteries is ongoing. Secondary batteries are attracting much attention as an energy source for power plants such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, as well as for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, laptops, and wearable devices.

[0004] Currently commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Of these, lithium secondary batteries are attracting attention due to their advantages over nickel-based secondary batteries, such as almost no memory effect, freedom in charging and discharging, a very low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

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

[0006] While secondary batteries used in small devices typically have two or three battery cells, secondary batteries used in medium- to large-sized devices such as automobiles typically use a battery module in which multiple battery cells are electrically connected. Such battery modules improve capacity and output by connecting multiple battery cells in series or parallel to each other to form a battery cell stack. One or more battery modules can also be mounted with various control and protection systems, such as a battery disconnect unit (BDU), battery management system (BMS), and cooling system, to form a battery pack.

[0007] Generally, if a secondary battery is heated above its optimum temperature, its performance may deteriorate, and in severe cases, it may explode or catch fire. In particular, in a battery module or battery pack including multiple secondary batteries, i.e., battery cells, the heat generated from the multiple battery cells may be combined in a small space, causing a rapid and sudden rise in temperature. In other words, a battery module having multiple stacked battery cells and a battery pack equipped with such a battery module can obtain high output, but it is difficult to remove the heat generated in the battery cells during charging and discharging. If the battery cells do not properly dissipate heat, the battery cells will deteriorate quickly, shortening their lifespan, and if thermal runaway occurs, there is a high possibility of explosion or fire.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional device including a battery pack.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram showing how external ignition occurs when a battery pack ignites in a conventional device.

[0010] 1 and 2 , a conventional device 1 may be, for example, an electric vehicle including a battery pack 10. Within the device 1, a predetermined gap 11 may exist between the device housing 20 and the battery pack 10. If an internal fire occurs in the battery pack 10, the battery pack 10 discharges vent gas 30 containing flammable materials to the outside. If the discharged vent gas 30 enters the gap 11 due to wind or other factors, it may encounter a high-temperature surface HP of the battery pack 10, causing an external fire. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to prevent ignition outside the battery pack by blocking the vent gas discharged to the outside from re-entering the battery pack when the battery pack catches fire. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The device of the present invention includes a battery pack including a lower frame in which a battery module is housed and an upper cover that covers the lower frame, a device housing positioned on the battery pack, and a smoke-control boundary wall disposed between the battery pack and the device housing.

[0013] In one embodiment, the battery pack may include a vent hole for discharging vent gas to the outside, and the smoke-control boundary wall may be positioned adjacent to the vent hole to block the vent gas from entering the upper cover.

[0014] In one embodiment, the vent holes may be formed on a side surface of the lower frame.

[0015] In one embodiment, the smoke-control boundary wall may fill more than half of the gap between the battery pack and the device housing.

[0016] In one embodiment, the smoke boundary wall may have a fixed shape regardless of temperature.

[0017] In one embodiment, the smoke-control boundary wall may be disposed along at least a portion of the periphery of the top cover in a plan view.

[0018] In one embodiment, the smoke control boundary wall may be in contact with the top cover.

[0019] In one embodiment, the smoke boundary wall may change shape or volume depending on temperature.

[0020] In one embodiment, the smoke-control boundary wall may be a fire-resistant expansion tube that expands in volume as the temperature of the upper cover increases, thereby sealing the gap between the battery pack and the device housing.

[0021] In one embodiment, the smoke-control boundary wall may include a shape-memory alloy, and may be deformed by an increase in temperature of the upper cover to close the gap between the battery pack and the device housing.

[0022] In one embodiment, the smoke control boundary wall may be in contact with the device housing.

[0023] In one embodiment, the smoke control boundary wall may contact the top cover and the device housing. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The device of the present invention includes a smoke-control boundary wall disposed between the device housing and the battery pack, thereby preventing vent gas discharged to the outside from encountering the hot battery pack and causing external ignition. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1]1 illustrates a conventional device including a battery pack. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a simplified diagram showing how external ignition occurs when a battery pack ignites in a conventional device. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram partially illustrating the interior of the battery pack of the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 11] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 12] 12 shows an apparatus including the smoke-control boundary wall of FIG. 11. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. [Figure 14] 14 shows an apparatus including the smoke-control boundary wall of FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 1 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0027] In order to clearly explain the present invention, parts that are not necessary for the explanation will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0028] In addition, the size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. In the drawings, thicknesses are exaggerated to clearly show various layers and regions. In the drawings, thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation.

[0029] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other part is said to be "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly above" that part, but also the case where there is another part in between. When a part is said to be "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Furthermore, being "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and does not necessarily mean being "above" in the opposite direction of gravity.

[0030] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when a part is described as "comprising" a certain element, this does not mean that it can further include other elements, unless otherwise specified.

[0031] Furthermore, throughout the specification, when we refer to a "planar" it means that the part in question is viewed from above.

[0032] The terms "first" and "second" used in this application may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

[0033] The device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0034] The device of the present invention comprises: a battery pack including a lower frame in which a battery module is housed and an upper cover that covers the lower frame; a device housing positioned over the battery pack; a smoke-control boundary wall disposed between the battery pack and the device housing.

[0035] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 4 is a diagram partially showing the inside of the battery pack of one embodiment.

[0037] 3 and 4 , a battery pack 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention may include at least one battery module 1300 and a pack frame 1100 that houses the battery module 1300. The pack frame 1100 may include a lower frame 1110 and an upper cover 1120 that covers the lower frame 1110, and a plurality of battery modules 1300 may be located at the bottom of the lower frame 1110. In other words, a plurality of battery modules 1300 may be disposed within the lower frame 1110, and the lower frame 1110 and the plurality of battery modules 1300 may be covered by the upper cover 1120.

[0038] Meanwhile, the battery pack 1000 according to this embodiment may further include a vent hole 1200 formed in the pack frame 1100. Specifically, the vent hole 1200 may be formed on a side surface of the lower frame 1110. By forming the vent hole 1200, vent gas generated inside the battery pack 1000 can be effectively discharged to the outside of the battery pack 1000.

[0039] One or more vent holes 1200 may be formed, for example, one vent hole 1200 may be formed. However, the number of vent holes 1200 is not limited thereto, and two or more vent holes 1200 may be formed as needed. Hereinafter, as an example, a description will be given of one vent hole 1200 formed on the side surface of the lower frame 1110.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a battery module according to one embodiment.

[0041] 5, the battery module 1300 may include a battery cell stack 1320 formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells 1310 in a predetermined direction, and a module frame 1330 that houses the battery cell stack 1320. The module frame 1330 may be structured to cover four sides of the battery cell stack 1320, corresponding to the top, bottom, left, and right sides, and the front and back sides of the battery cell stack 1320 may be structured to be open. The front and back sides of the battery cell stack 1320 exposed by the module frame 1330 may be covered by end plates 1340. Here, the plurality of battery cells 1310 may be pouch-type secondary batteries, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the battery cells 1310 may be a jelly-roll type, a stack type, a stack-folding type (including a stack-Z-folding type), or a lamination-stack type, in addition to the pouch type.

[0042] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0043] Referring to FIG. 6, the device 100 of one embodiment includes the battery pack 1000 described above, a device housing 2000 disposed on the battery pack 1000, and a smoke-control boundary wall 3000 disposed between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000.

[0044] The device housing 2000 is shown only schematically, and its shape may vary depending on the type of device 100. For example, if the device 100 is an electric vehicle, the device housing 2000 may be a vehicle chassis. A gap 1111 of 10 mm to 30 mm may exist between the device housing 2000 and the upper cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000.

[0045] In the event of an internal fire or the like, the battery pack 1000 releases vent gas to the outside through a vent hole 1200 formed in the lower frame 1110. 1400 Generally, in a situation where the battery pack 1000 catches fire, the device 100 may be parked, i.e., stationary, and the released vent gas may be blown away by factors such as wind. 1400 may flow back into the gap 1111 and encounter the hot surface HP of the top cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000, posing a risk of ignition.

[0046] The smoke-control boundary wall 3000 is disposed between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000. The present invention includes a smoke-control boundary wall 3000 disposed between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000, thereby preventing vent gases. 1400 This prevents the vent gas from re-entering the gap 1111 between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000. 1400 This can prevent the battery pack 1000 from catching fire externally.

[0047] The battery pack 1000 has a vent gas in the top cover 1120. 1400 The smoke control boundary wall 3000 can be positioned adjacent to the vent hole 1200 to effectively block the inflow of vent gas. 1400 The battery pack 1000 may be located adjacent to the periphery of the battery pack 1000 so that the heat generated by the battery pack 1000 does not flow into the interior of the battery pack 1000.

[0048] In one embodiment, the smoke boundary wall 3000 may be heat-resistant and may include a material that can absorb heat when the battery pack 1000 catches fire. For example, the smoke boundary wall 3000 may include aluminum or steel. The height of the smoke boundary wall 3000 may be equal to or greater than half of the gap 1111, which is the linear distance between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000.

[0049] In one embodiment, the smoke control boundary wall 3000 can have a fixed position and a fixed shape regardless of the temperature of the top cover 1120 .

[0050] The smoke-control boundary wall 3000 may be in contact with the device housing 2000, and more specifically, may be formed on the lower surface of the device housing 2000. For example, the smoke-control boundary wall 3000 may have a shape that protrudes from the lower surface of the device housing 2000 toward the battery pack 1000.

[0051] Moreover, the smoke control boundary wall 3000 may have a bar shape.

[0052] However, the shape of the smoke control boundary wall 3000 is not limited to this.

[0053] In the following description, differences from the device 100 of FIG. 6 will be mainly described, and the above-described contents are equally applied to other parts, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0054] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0055] In one embodiment of the device 100-1, the smoke control boundary wall 3000-1 may be in contact with the device housing 2000 and formed on the underside of the device housing 2000.

[0056] The smoke-control boundary wall 3000-1 may include a portion that extends inward compared to the smoke-control boundary wall 3000 in Fig. 6. This can further ensure the fixing force between the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-1 and the device housing 2000.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0058] In one embodiment, the device 100-a may include a smoke-control boundary wall 3000-a that contacts the top cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000. Specifically, the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-a may be formed on the top surface of the top cover 1120.

[0059] For example, the smoke control boundary wall 3000-a may have a shape that protrudes from the upper surface of the upper cover 1120 toward the device housing 2000.

[0060] FIG. 9 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0061] In one embodiment of the device 100 - a - 1 , the smoke-control boundary wall 3000 - a - 1 contacts the battery pack 1000 and may be formed on the upper surface of the top cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000 .

[0062] The smoke-control boundary wall 3000-a-1 may include a portion that extends inward compared to the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-a of Fig. 8. This allows the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-a-1 and the battery pack 1000 10 is a diagram showing an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0063] 10, device 100-b in one embodiment may include a top cover 1120 of battery pack 1000 and a smoke-control boundary wall 3000-b that is in full contact with device housing 2000. That is, smoke-control boundary wall 3000-b may completely fill gap 1111 between battery pack 1000 and device housing 2000.

[0064] In other embodiments of the device of the present invention, the smoke boundary wall may be temperature-activated, for example, the smoke boundary wall may change shape or volume in response to temperature.

[0065] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0066] FIG. 12 shows an apparatus including the smoke-control boundary wall of FIG.

[0067] 11 and 12, in one embodiment, the device 100-c can include a smoke-control boundary wall 3100 that expands in volume with temperature.

[0068] For example, the smoke-controlling boundary wall 3100 may be an expansion tube whose volume expands above a certain temperature. Specifically, the smoke-controlling boundary wall 3100 may be one that expands in volume due to the generation of gas inside it above a certain temperature, and may include a material such as rubber or aluminum foil. Alternatively, the smoke-controlling boundary wall 3100 may include a material such as foamed silicone that has foaming properties itself. The smoke-controlling boundary wall 3100 expands at temperatures of approximately 100°C or higher, and can withstand temperatures of approximately 400°C to 500°C or higher.

[0069] In one embodiment, the smoke-control boundary wall 3100 may be disposed on the upper cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000 and may be in contact with the upper surface of the upper cover 1120. When the temperature of the surface HP of the upper cover 1120 is less than approximately 120°C, the smoke-control boundary wall 3100 barely blocks the gap 1111, as shown in Fig. 11. However, if an internal fire in the battery pack 1000 causes the temperature of the surface HP of the upper cover 1120 to rise to 120°C or higher, the smoke-control boundary wall 3100 may expand and assume a shape that completely blocks the gap 1111.

[0070] As a result, the vent gas discharged to the outside from the vent hole 1200 1400 does not flow into the gap 1111 between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000, and external ignition of the battery pack 1000 can be prevented.

[0071] FIG. 13 illustrates an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 14 shows an apparatus including the smoke-control boundary wall of FIG.

[0073] 13 and 14, the device 100-d in one embodiment may include a smoke-control boundary wall 3200 that changes shape in response to temperature. For example, the smoke-control boundary wall 3200 may be a shape-memory alloy.

[0074] In one embodiment, the smoke-control boundary wall 3200 may be disposed on the upper cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000 and may be in contact with the upper surface of the upper cover 1120. When the temperature of the surface HP of the upper cover 1120 is below 120°C, the smoke-control boundary wall 3200 barely blocks the gap 1111, as shown in Fig. 13. However, if an internal fire in the battery pack 1000 causes the temperature of the surface HP of the upper cover 1120 to rise to 120°C or higher, the smoke-control boundary wall 3200 may expand and assume a shape that completely blocks the gap 1111.

[0075] As a result, the vent gas discharged to the outside from the vent hole 1200 1400 does not flow into the gap 1111 between the battery pack 1000 and the device housing 2000, and external ignition of the battery pack 1000 can be prevented.

[0076] On the other hand, the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-c may be arranged on a plane along at least a portion of the periphery of the top cover 1120.

[0077] 15 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus including a smoke-control boundary wall according to one embodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, a smoke-control boundary wall 3000-c may be disposed around at least a portion of the top cover 1120 of the battery pack 1000.

[0078] Referring to FIG. 15, the smoke control boundary wall 3000-c may include a first smoke control boundary wall 3000-c1 arranged along a first side sb1 adjacent to the vent hole 1200, and a second side sb2 and a third side sb3 adjacent to the first side sb1.

[0079] Moreover, smoke control boundary wall 3000-c includes second smoke control boundary wall 3000-c2 facing first smoke control boundary wall 3000-c1, thereby making it possible to improve the smoke control effect.

[0080] However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-c may include only the first smoke-control boundary wall 3000-c1 that is relatively closer to the vent hole 1200, and the second smoke-control boundary wall 3000-c2 may be omitted.

[0081] Also, first smoke control boundary wall 3000-c1 may be disposed only on first side sb1 relatively adjacent to vent hole 1200, and may not be disposed on second side sb2 and third side sb3.

[0082] That is, the smoke-control boundary wall 3000-c is necessarily disposed on the first side sb1 adjacent to the vent hole 1200, and may additionally be disposed further along the periphery of the upper cover 1120 as required.

[0083] This is equally applicable to the smoke control boundary walls 3000-a, 3000-a-1, 3000-b, 3100, and 3200 described above in Figures 8 to 14. In the case of the smoke control boundary walls 3000 and 3000-1 protruding from the device housing 2000 as shown in Figures 6 and 7, this is applicable as being disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the periphery of the upper cover 1120 on a plane.

[0084] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications and improvements made by those skilled in the art using the basic concept of the present invention defined in the claims also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 100: Equipment 1000: Battery pack 1100: Pack Frame 1110: Lower frame 1120: Upper cover 1200: Vent hole 1300: Battery module 2000: Device housing 3000: Smoke control boundary wall

Claims

1. a battery pack including a lower frame in which a battery module is housed and an upper cover that covers the lower frame; a device housing positioned over the battery pack; a smoke-control boundary wall disposed between the battery pack and the device housing.

2. the battery pack includes a vent hole for discharging vent gas to the outside; 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smoke-control boundary wall is located adjacent to the vent hole and blocks the vent gas from entering the top cover.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the vent holes are located on the sides of the lower frame.

4. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the smoke-control boundary wall is configured to fill more than half of the gap between the battery pack and the device housing.

5. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smoke control boundary wall has a fixed shape independent of temperature.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, in a plan view, the smoke-control boundary wall is disposed along at least a portion of the periphery of the top cover.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the smoke-control boundary wall contacts the top cover.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the smoke-control boundary wall changes shape or volume depending on temperature.

9. 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the smoke-control boundary wall is a fire-resistant expansion tube that expands in volume as the temperature of the top cover rises, thereby sealing the gap between the battery pack and the device housing.

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the smoke-control boundary wall includes a shape-memory alloy and changes shape when the temperature of the upper cover rises, thereby closing the gap between the battery pack and the device housing.

11. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the smoke-control boundary wall contacts the device housing.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the smoke-control boundary wall contacts the top cover and the device housing.

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