Battery module equipped with a flame exhaust cutoff unit and battery pack including the same

Abstract

A battery module according to the present invention may include: a module case; a plurality of battery cells accommodated inside the module case and arranged in a stacked state in one direction; a bus bar frame supporting bus bars connected to electrode leads of the battery cells; and a flame exhaust blocking unit connected to the bus bar frame and disposed on a plate surface of the bus bar frame and on an upper surface of the battery cell, and configured to block the exhaust of a flame traveling in both or either one of a front-rear direction of the battery cell where the electrode lead is located and an upper surface direction of the battery cell.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, and more specifically, to a battery module that can delay thermal runaway by applying a thermal barrier made of a flame-retardant material to a bus bar frame, thereby guiding high-temperature gases, flames, sparks, etc. generated in the event of an internal fire in the battery module to directionally vent downward from the module rather than toward the bus bar frame.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0028012, filed on March 2, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Semi-permanent batteries that convert electrical energy into chemical energy and can be repeatedly charged and discharged are called secondary batteries, in distinction from primary batteries, which cannot be reused once used.

[0004] Secondary batteries include lithium secondary batteries, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries, lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries, zinc-air batteries, alkaline manganese batteries, etc. Of these, lead-acid batteries and lithium secondary batteries are the most actively commercialized secondary batteries.

[0005] In particular, lithium secondary batteries have recently been actively used as batteries for electric vehicles due to their advantages of high energy storage density, light weight and miniaturization, excellent safety, low discharge rate, long life, etc. For reference, lithium secondary batteries are generally classified into cylindrical, prismatic, and pouch types depending on the manufacturing form, and are used not only for electric vehicle batteries but also for ESS batteries and other electrical devices.

[0006] Currently, the operating voltage of a single lithium secondary battery cell is approximately 2.5 V to 4.5 V. Therefore, in order to use a secondary battery as an energy source for an electric vehicle, a battery module is constructed by connecting multiple lithium ion battery cells in series and / or in parallel, and a battery pack is constructed by connecting the battery modules in series and / or in parallel.

[0007] On the other hand, secondary batteries undergo chemical reactions during charging and discharging, so their performance may deteriorate if they are used in environments with temperatures higher than the appropriate temperature, and if they are not thermally controlled to an appropriate temperature, they may unexpectedly catch fire or explode. Furthermore, battery modules are constructed with such secondary batteries housed together inside a module housing, and if a thermal event occurs in one of the secondary batteries, there is a possibility of heat transfer, chain fires, or thermal runaway in adjacent modules or packs.

[0008] In particular, vent gas, flames, sparks, etc. generated during thermal runaway in a specific battery cell are likely to be ejected toward the front and / or rear surfaces of the battery cell where the electrode leads of the battery module are located and / or toward the top surface of the battery cell, which may cause thermal damage to components at both ends of the battery module, such as end plates and adjacent components of the bus bar frame, and may cause structural collapse.

[0009] Furthermore, flames expelled to the outside through the end plate may spread to adjacent battery modules, particularly the end plate side, potentially causing a chain reaction and thermal runaway. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a battery module that can structurally block flames and the like that erupt in both or either of the front and rear directions of the battery cell where the electrode leads are located and the top direction of the battery cell, thereby minimizing thermal damage to both end components and end plates of the battery module and preventing structural collapse, and that can delay chain fires and thermal runaway phenomena as much as possible by directional venting the flame to one side of the module without spreading it to adjacent battery modules.

[0011] The technical 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]

[0012] A battery module according to the present invention may include: a module case; a plurality of battery cells accommodated inside the module case and arranged in a stacked state in one direction; a bus bar frame supporting bus bars connected to electrode leads of the battery cells; and a flame exhaust blocking unit connected to the bus bar frame and disposed on a plate surface of the bus bar frame and on an upper surface of the battery cell, and configured to block the exhaust of a flame traveling in both or either one of a front-rear direction of the battery cell where the electrode lead is located and an upper surface direction of the battery cell.

[0013] The flame exhaust blocking unit may include a frame cover member coupled to and facing the bus bar frame, and an upper end cover member bent at an upper end of the bus bar frame to partially cover an upper surface of the battery cell.

[0014] The flame exhaust cutoff unit may further include a crimping cover block that crimps and fixes the frame cover member to the bus bar frame.

[0015] The battery pack may further include a heat shield member provided between at least one of the battery cells along a stacking direction of the battery cells.

[0016] The bus bar frame may have a plurality of through slots at equal intervals corresponding to the heat shielding member, and the bus bar frame may be coupled to the battery cell by inserting both ends of the heat shielding member into the through slots.

[0017] When a tip of the heat insulating member is inserted into the bus bar frame, a protruding partition wall portion protruding outward from a plate surface of the bus bar frame is formed. The bus bar frame may be provided with a plurality of partition surfaces separated by the protruding partition wall portions, and the frame cover member and the crimp cover block may be provided separately for each partition surface.

[0018] The upper end cover member may include a coupling surface disposed parallel to a plate surface of the bus bar frame and coupled to the bus bar frame, and a bent surface bent relative to the coupling surface and disposed in an upper edge region of the battery cell.

[0019] The end of the bent surface may be provided with a reinforcing bent portion.

[0020] The frame cover member may be a flame-retardant pad made of silicone or aerogel material, and the top cover member and the crimping cover block may be made of SUS material.

[0021] The frame cover member has lead exposure holes formed therein that receive the bus bars and expose them to the outside, and an insulating layer may be bonded to the inner wall of the crimp cover block at a position corresponding to the lead exposure hole.

[0022] The bus bar frame may include a holder portion protruding outward from an edge of the partition surface to facilitate coupling between the frame cover member and the crimp cover block.

[0023] The crimp cover block may be coupled to the holder portion with an interference fit.

[0024] The inner wall of the holder portion may be formed with a tapered tube contraction portion for tight fitting.

[0025] At least one reinforcing rib portion is provided on the plate surface of the flame exhaust cutoff unit, and the reinforcing rib portion may include a convex rib provided on the crimped cover block and a concave rib provided on the upper end cover member.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery pack including one or more of the battery modules described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, flames generated during a thermal event can be prevented from escaping toward both or either of the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell where the electrode leads are located and the top surface of the battery cell, thereby minimizing thermal damage to both end components and end plates of the battery module and preventing structural collapse.

[0028] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, by introducing a directional vent that can control and exhaust blocked flames and the like in a specific direction (e.g., downward) within the battery module, it is possible to delay as much as possible the occurrence of chain fires and thermal runaway phenomena in adjacent battery modules. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a bus bar frame coupled to the battery cell in FIG. 2; [Figure 4] 4 is a detailed exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, showing a detailed configuration of a flame exhaust cutoff unit connected to the bus bar frame. FIG. [Figure 5] 3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a bus bar frame and a flame exhaust cutoff unit in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a bus bar frame according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bus bar frame and a flame exhaust cutoff unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a view showing a state in which a bus bar frame and a flame exhaust cutoff unit according to still another embodiment of the present invention include a reinforcing rib portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] In the drawings, the size of each component or specific parts constituting the component may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically shown for convenience and clarity of description. Therefore, the size of each component may not completely reflect the actual size. If a detailed description of related well-known functions or configurations is deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, such description will be omitted.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the battery module of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a bus bar frame coupled to a battery cell in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a detailed exploded perspective view of FIG. 3, showing the detailed configuration of a flame exhaust cutoff unit 400 connected to the bus bar frame.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 , a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a module case 200, a plurality of battery cells 111 housed inside the module case 200 and arranged in a stacked manner in one direction, and a bus bar frame 300 supporting bus bars 320 connected to electrode leads 112 of the battery cells 111.

[0035] 4, the battery cell 111 includes an electrode assembly, a case that houses the electrode assembly, and a pair of electrode leads 112 that are connected to the electrode assembly and drawn out of the case to function as electrode terminals. The pair of electrode leads 112 are drawn out from both ends of the battery cell 111, i.e., in the length direction (±X direction).

[0036] If necessary, the battery cell 111 may have a shape in which the electrode lead 112 is located only at one end in the X-axis direction, for example, the end in the +X-axis direction. Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to a specific type or shape of the battery cell 111, and various battery cells 111 known at the time of filing of the present invention may be used to configure the cell assembly of the present invention. While the present embodiment focuses on a pouch-type secondary battery that has high energy density and is easy to stack, it goes without saying that a cylindrical or prismatic secondary battery may also be used as the battery cell 111.

[0037] The battery cells 111 may be stacked and arranged in at least one direction. In this embodiment, referring mainly to FIG. 2, the battery cells 111 may be stacked in a manner that they are arranged in a horizontal direction (Y-axis direction) while standing upright in a vertical direction (Z-axis direction in the drawing).

[0038] A heat-shielding member 120 may be provided between the battery cells 111. The heat-shielding member 120 may be interposed between the battery cells 111 (e.g., for every one or more battery cells 111) at regular intervals along the stacking direction of the battery cells 111. The heat-shielding member 120 may be in face-to-face contact with both plate surfaces of at least some of the pouch-type battery cells 111 among the plurality of pouch-type battery cells 111. In the present embodiment, the heat-shielding member 120 is provided in a structure in which it is interposed at a position corresponding to the through-slot 330 of the bus bar frame 300, and the heat-shielding member 120 may be provided in a form in which it is disposed for at least two or more battery cells 111.

[0039] The heat-blocking member 120 may be in the form of a compressive pad and made of a material with excellent heat resistance (e.g., silicon, aerogel, mica, etc.) Since the heat-blocking member 120 is a compressive pad, it compresses the battery cell 111 when the battery cell 111 swells, thereby contributing to the structural rigidity of the battery cell 111.

[0040] In addition, when an internal fire occurs in the battery module 10, the heat-resistant heat-blocking member 120 can function as a thermal barrier to block hot air, such as flames generated in the ignited battery cell 111, from progressing in the stacking direction of the battery cells 111. This can minimize heat transfer to adjacent battery cells 111.

[0041] The heat-blocking member 120 is arranged so that both ends are inserted into the through-slots 330 of the bus bar frame 300, and the battery cells 111 and the bus bar frame 300 are interconnected, which will be described in detail in the configuration of the flame exhaust blocking unit 400.

[0042] The module case 200 may have an internal space formed therein and may be configured to accommodate the battery cells 111 in the internal space. The module case 200 of the present embodiment may include a case body 210 and end plates 220 disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the case body 210.

[0043] The case body 210 may be configured in the shape of a rectangular tube having a hollow structure with open ends O at both ends in the length direction. For example, the case body 210 may be configured in the shape of a tube having an upper surface, a lower surface, a left side surface, and a right side surface, with openings formed at the front and rear ends, respectively.

[0044] Alternatively, the module case 200 may be formed in various other shapes. For example, the case body 210 may be formed by integrating a left plate, a right plate, and a bottom plate. In this case, the integrated case portion may be referred to as a U-frame. The U-frame may be formed in a tubular shape by welding a top plate to its upper surface. Alternatively, the module case 200 may include a box-shaped lower case in which a left plate, a right plate, a front plate, and a rear plate are integrated, and an upper cover that closes the upper open end of the lower case.

[0045] The case body 210 may be configured to allow the battery cell 111 to be inserted into the interior along the length direction. That is, the case body 210 may be configured to allow the battery cell 111 to be inserted therein by a sliding or tight fit. For the tight fit, there may be little gap between the lower surface of the case body 210 and the lower end of the battery cell 111, and there may also be little gap between both side surfaces of the case body 210 and both sides of the battery cell 111. However, there may be a relatively small gap between the upper surface of the case body and the upper end of the battery cell 111, allowing the upper end cover member 420 to be inserted through the small gap. The gap between the battery cell 111 and the case body is exaggerated in FIG. 6.

[0046] The case body 210 can be made of a metal material having rigidity and heat resistance to physically and chemically protect the housed battery cells 111 .

[0047] Meanwhile, although not shown, vent holes may be formed in the case body 210 to allow directional ventilation in one direction. For example, a plurality of vent holes may be formed in the lower surface of the case body, allowing directional ventilation downward of the battery module 10 through the vent holes.

[0048] The end plate 220 may be provided to be coupled to the open end O of the case body 210 so that the electrode leads 112 of the battery cells 111 and the portions where the electrode leads 112 are fixed and connected to the bus bars 320 on the bus bar frame 300 are not exposed to the outside. Meanwhile, although not shown for convenience of illustration, the end plate 220 may be configured, for example, so that the inside is made of an insulating material and the outside is made of a metal material, and may be partially provided with holes or slits 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.

[0049] Referring mainly to FIG. 4, the bus bar frame 300 is provided as a plate-like body having a size capable of covering both ends of the battery cell 111, and the front (+X direction) or rear (-X direction) of the battery cell 111.

[0050] The bus bar frame 300 may include lead slots 310 through which the electrode leads 112 pass, and a plurality of bus bars 320 electrically connected to the electrode leads 112 .

[0051] The bus bar frame 300 includes a plurality of lead slots 310 through which the electrode leads 112 of the battery cells 111 can pass in the +X-axis or −X-axis direction, and the plurality of lead slots 310 may be provided along the stacking direction (Y direction) of the battery cells 111. This allows the electrode leads 112 to pass through the lead slots 310.

[0052] The bus bar 320 may be provided between the lead slots 310. The bus bar 320 may be made of an electrically conductive material and configured to be in direct contact with the electrode lead 112. For example, the bus bar 320 may be made of a material such as copper or aluminum. In particular, the bus bar 320 may be configured to maintain contact with the electrode lead 112 by welding or the like.

[0053] The bus bar frame 300 may have a plurality of through slots 330 at equal intervals corresponding to the heat blocking members 120. The through slots 330 are arranged to insert both ends of the heat blocking members 120 therethrough, and the ends of the heat blocking members 120, i.e., the protruding partition walls 121, may be exposed from the plate surface of the bus bar frame 300. As a result, the bus bar frame 300 may have a plurality of partition surfaces 340 defined by the protruding partition walls 121.

[0054] Such a bus bar frame 300 may be injection molded from an electrically insulating material. As an example, the bus bar frame 300 may be configured to support the bus bars 320 from an electrically insulating material such as plastic.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a bus bar frame and a flame exhaust cutoff unit in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] Because the bus bar frame 300 is mainly made of an electrically insulating material, it may not be able to effectively block vent gas, flames, sparks, etc. that are generated during thermal runaway in a particular battery cell 111. In particular, flames, etc. are likely to travel to the open end O of the module case 200 through the module case 200 and be ejected onto the front surface of the bus bar frame 300 disposed on the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell 111, or into the gap between the top surface of the module case 200 and the upper end region of the bus bar frame 300.

[0057] For this purpose, in this embodiment, a flame exhaust shutoff unit 400 may be provided on the bus bar frame 300. As shown mainly in Figures 4 to 6, the flame exhaust shutoff unit 400 is provided to be connected to the bus bar frame 300, and can shut off the gap between the front surface of the bus bar frame 300 or the top surface of the module case 200 and the upper end region of the bus bar frame 300.

[0058] That is, the flame exhaust blocking unit 400 is arranged to cover the plate surfaces of the busbar frame 300 arranged on the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell 111 formed by the electrode lead 112 and the top surface of the battery cell 111, respectively, and can be arranged to block the exhaust of flames proceeding in a specific direction, for example, in both or either the front and rear surface direction of the battery cell 111 where the electrode lead 112 is located and the top surface direction of the battery cell 111.

[0059] To this end, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 , the flame exhaust blocking unit 400 may include a frame cover member 410 that faces and is coupled to the bus bar frame 300, an upper end cover member 420 that is bent at the upper end of the bus bar frame 300 and partially covers the upper surfaces of the battery cells 111, and a crimping cover block 430 that crimps and fixes the frame cover member 410 to the bus bar frame 300.

[0060] 4 and 5, the frame cover member 410 may be coupled to face the bus bar frame 300. The frame cover member 410 may be coupled to the outside of the bus bar frame 300. The frame cover member 410 may have lead exposure holes 411 formed therein to expose the bus bars 320. The exposed bus bars 320 may be electrically connected to the electrode leads 112, terminals, etc.

[0061] However, although there is a risk that the lead exposure hole 411 may reduce the blocking function of flames, etc., the bus bar 320 is arranged to be inserted and coupled into the lead exposure hole 411, and the bus bar 320 covers the lead exposure hole 411, so that the emission of flames, etc. through the lead exposure hole 411 can be minimized.

[0062] As a result, the frame cover member 410 may be provided to cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell 111 where the electrode leads 112 are located. That is, the frame cover member 410 is coupled to the outside of the bus bar frame 300 and can block flames that advance in the front and rear directions of the battery cell 111.

[0063] For this purpose, the frame cover member 410 may be made of a material with low thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance. For example, the frame cover member 410 may be made of a flame-retardant pad made of silicone or aerogel material. Alternatively, the frame cover member 410 may be made of a flame-retardant mica material.

[0064] Meanwhile, it is necessary to supplement the structural rigidity of the frame cover member 410, and for this purpose, in this embodiment, a crimping cover block 430 can be provided. The crimping cover block 430 can crimp and fix the frame cover member 410 to the bus bar frame 300. The crimping cover block 430 is fixed to the bus bar frame 300 by a connecting member, and in this process, the frame cover member 410 can be crimped.

[0065] The crimp cover block 430 may be provided to cover the outer surfaces of the frame cover member 410 and the bus bar 320. The crimp cover block 430 may be made of a flame-retardant material while ensuring structural rigidity. For example, the crimp cover block 430 may be made of a stainless steel material. An insulating layer 431 may be provided on the inner wall of the crimp cover block 430 where the bus bar 320 is located. The insulating layer 431 is provided to be received in the lead exposure hole 411 and to apply pressure to the electrode lead 112 bent to the bus bar 320.

[0066] Since the crimping cover block 430 fully covers not only the frame cover member 410 but also the bus bar 320 portion, when a direct flame or the like is ejected onto the front or rear surface of the battery cell 111 through the bus bar frame 300, the frame cover member 410 made of a flame-retardant material can effectively support the bus bar frame 300 and withstand the internal pressure, thereby blocking the emission of the flame toward the front or rear surface of the battery cell 111.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 6, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 111, a flame or the like is ejected toward the end plate side (X direction), and during this process, the frame cover member 410, which is crimped and fixed to the bus bar frame 300 by the crimp cover block 430, blocks the progression of the flame, thereby preventing the flame from escaping to the front of the battery cell 111.

[0068] 4, when the heat-shielding member 120 is coupled to the bus bar frame 300, an end of the heat-shielding member 120 may form a protruding partition wall portion 121 that protrudes outward from a plate surface of the bus bar frame 300. The bus bar frame 300 may be provided with a plurality of partition surfaces 340 that are partitioned by the protruding partition wall portion 121.

[0069] In this embodiment, the frame cover member 410 and the crimp cover block 430 may be separated from each other and individually installed for each partition surface 340. As a result, when a thermal event occurs in a specific battery cell 111, the frame cover member 410 and the crimp cover block 430 corresponding to the battery cell 111 can perform a local fire protection function, thereby minimizing the adverse effects of the fire on other separated frame cover members 410 and crimp cover blocks 430.

[0070] The upper end cover member 420 may be configured in a shape bent from the upper end of the bus bar frame 300 toward the center of the battery cell 111. Referring mainly to FIG. 5 , the upper end cover member 420 may include a coupling surface 421 disposed parallel to a plate surface of the bus bar frame 300 and coupled to the bus bar frame 300, and a bent surface 422 bent relative to the coupling surface 421 and disposed in an upper edge region of the battery cell 111.

[0071] The coupling surface 421 may be coupled to a plate surface of the bus bar frame 300. In the drawings, the coupling surface 421 is shown slightly protruding from the plate surface of the bus bar frame 300, but the top surface of the bus bar frame 300 may be recessed by the thickness of the coupling surface 421 to form a step, to which the coupling surface 421 is coupled, and the outer surface of the coupling surface 421 may be substantially flush with the plate surface of the bus bar frame 300. The coupling surface 421 may serve to fix the upper end cover member 420 to the bus bar frame 300.

[0072] The bent surface 422 may be disposed in an upper edge region of the battery cell 111 in a shape bent relative to the coupling surface 421. Providing a reinforcing bent portion 423 at the end of the bent surface 422 is advantageous in ensuring rigidity.

[0073] The top cover member 420 is made of SUS material, the same as the material of the crimp cover block 430, and can therefore be made to resist the escape of flames, etc. That is, referring to FIG. 6 , when a thermal event occurs and a fire, etc. breaks out in a specific battery cell 111, some of the flames rise to the upper side of the battery cell 111 and then advance toward the open end O. However, the top cover member 420 disposed in the gap between the upper region of the bus bar frame 300 and the case body partially reinforces both sides of the upper portion of the battery cell 111, thereby preventing the flames, etc. from escaping into the gap. This prevents the flames from advancing to the left side of the top cover member 420, minimizing thermal damage to both end components and end plates of the battery module 10.

[0074] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent flames and the like generated during a thermal event from being discharged in both or either of the front and rear directions of the battery cell 111 where the electrode lead 112 is located and the top direction of the battery cell 111, thereby minimizing thermal damage to both end components and the end plate 220 of the battery module 10 and preventing structural collapse.

[0075] In addition, according to this embodiment, by introducing a directional vent that can control and exhaust blocked flames, etc., in a specific direction (e.g., downward) within the battery module 10, heat accumulation in adjacent battery modules 10 and thermal runaway phenomena can be delayed as much as possible.

[0076] Next, another embodiment of the battery module 10 of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

[0077] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a bus bar frame according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a bus bar frame and a flame exhaust cutoff unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] The same reference numerals as in the previous drawings represent the same components, and a duplicated description of the same components will be omitted, with the focus being on the differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0079] Compared with the above-described embodiment, the battery module 10 according to this embodiment of the present invention has an additional configuration in the bus bar frame 300. That is, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the bus bar frame 300 may include a holder portion 450 that protrudes outward from the edge of the partition surface 340 to facilitate the interconnection between the frame cover member 410 and the crimp cover block 430.

[0080] Referring mainly to FIG. 8 , the holder portion 450 may be provided along the outer periphery of the bus bar frame 300. The holder portion 450 is provided to protrude from the outer surface of the bus bar frame 300 toward the front surface (X-axis direction) of the battery cell 111, and the frame cover member 410 may be seated inside the holder portion 450. The crimp cover block 430 may be connected to the holder portion 450 by an interference fit. To maximize the connection strength of the interference fit, a tube-reducing slope portion 451 may be formed on the inner wall of the holder portion 450. This allows the crimp cover block 430 to be firmly connected to the holder portion 450, thereby improving the fixing force of the crimp cover block 430 to crimp the frame cover member 410. This more reliably prevents flames, etc., generated during a thermal event from reaching the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell 111 where the electrode leads 112 are located.

[0081] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent flames and the like generated during a thermal event from being discharged in both or either of the front and rear directions of the battery cell 111 where the electrode lead 112 is located and the top direction of the battery cell 111, thereby minimizing thermal damage to both end components and the end plate 220 of the battery module 10 and preventing structural collapse.

[0082] In addition, according to this embodiment, by introducing a directional vent that can control and exhaust blocked flames, etc., in a specific direction (e.g., downward) within the battery module 10, heat accumulation in adjacent battery modules 10 and thermal runaway phenomena can be delayed as much as possible.

[0083] The fire exhaust cutoff unit 400 of the battery module 10 according to still another embodiment of the present invention may be provided with a reinforcing rib portion 460 .

[0084] The reinforcing rib portion 460 is a configuration for improving the structural rigidity of the flame exhaust cutoff unit 400, and is intended to withstand, in particular, lateral pressure or shear force (pressure from a flame generated when a thermal event occurs) applied to the plate surface. For this purpose, the plate surface of the crimping cover block 430 and the plate surface of the upper cover member 420 may be provided with a protruding or recessed rib-shaped reinforcing rib portion 460.

[0085] Referring mainly to FIG. 9, the reinforcing rib portion 460 may include a convex rib 461 provided on the crimping cover block 430 and a concave rib 462 provided on the upper end cover member 420.

[0086] Here, the configuration of the convex ribs 461 and the concave ribs 462 is arbitrarily adopted, and the position of the reinforcing rib portion 460 and the shape and number of the ribs may be changed as long as the lateral pressure resistance can be increased.

[0087] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent flames and the like generated during a thermal event from being discharged in both or either of the front and rear directions of the battery cell 111 where the electrode lead 112 is located and the top direction of the battery cell 111, thereby minimizing thermal damage to both end components and the end plate 220 of the battery module 10 and preventing structural collapse.

[0088] In addition, according to this embodiment, by introducing a directional vent that can control and exhaust blocked flames, etc., in a specific direction (e.g., downward) within the battery module 10, heat accumulation in adjacent battery modules 10 and thermal runaway phenomena can be delayed as much as possible.

[0089] Meanwhile, a battery pack (not shown) according to the present invention may include one or more of the above-described battery modules. The battery pack according to the present invention may further include a master BMS (Battery Management System) for integrally controlling the charging and discharging of the one or more battery modules, a current sensor, a fuse, etc., and a pack case for accommodating the above-described components.

[0090] The battery pack according to the present invention can be applied to energy storage devices or to automobiles such as electric scooters, electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles.

[0091] 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.

[0092] Meanwhile, when terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification, it will be clear 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. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 10 Battery Module 111 Battery Cells 112 Electrode Lead 120 Heat insulating material 121 Projecting bulkhead part 200 Module Case 210 Case body 220 End Plate 300 Busbar Frame 310 lead slots 320 Busbar 330 Through Slot 340 ward screen 400 Flame Exhaust Shutoff Unit 410 Frame cover member 411 Lead exposure hole 420 Upper end cover member 421 Bonding surface 422 Bending surface 423 Reinforced bend 430 Crimp Cover Block 431 Insulating Layer 450 holder part 451 Constriction slope 460 Reinforcement rib 461 Convex rib 462 concave rib

Claims

1. A module case, a plurality of battery cells housed inside the module case and arranged in a stacked manner in one direction; a bus bar frame supporting bus bars connected to the electrode leads of the battery cells; a flame exhaust shutoff unit connected to the bus bar frame, disposed on a plate surface of the bus bar frame and on an upper surface of the battery cell, and configured to shut off exhaust of a flame traveling in both or either one of a front-rear direction of the battery cell where the electrode lead is located and a direction toward an upper surface of the battery cell.

2. The flame exhaust shutoff unit comprises: a frame cover member that faces and is coupled to the bus bar frame; The battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising: an upper end cover member bent at an upper end of the bus bar frame to partially cover an upper surface of the battery cell.

3. The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the flame exhaust cutoff unit further comprises a crimping cover block that crimps and fixes the frame cover member to the bus bar frame.

4. The battery module according to claim 3 , further comprising a heat shield member provided between at least one of the battery cells along a stacking direction of the battery cells.

5. The bus bar frame is provided with a plurality of through slots at equal intervals corresponding to the heat shielding members, The battery module according to claim 4 , wherein the bus bar frame is coupled to the battery cells by inserting both ends of the heat shielding member into the through-slots.

6. When a tip of the heat insulating member is inserted into the bus bar frame, a protruding partition wall is formed that protrudes outward from a plate surface of the bus bar frame, the bus bar frame is provided with a plurality of partition surfaces that are partitioned by the protruding partition wall portions, The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the frame cover member and the crimp cover block are separately provided for each of the partition surfaces.

7. The upper end cover member is a coupling surface disposed parallel to a plate surface of the bus bar frame and coupled to the bus bar frame; The battery module according to claim 2 , further comprising: a folding surface disposed on an upper edge region of the battery cell in a folded shape relative to the joining surface.

8. The battery module according to claim 7 , wherein a reinforcing bent portion is provided at an end of the bent surface.

9. The frame cover member is a flame-retardant pad made of silicone or aerogel material, The battery module according to claim 3 , wherein the upper end cover member and the crimp cover block are made of stainless steel.

10. The frame cover member is formed with lead exposure holes through which the bus bars are exposed, The battery module according to claim 9 , wherein an insulating layer is bonded to an inner wall of the crimp cover block at a position corresponding to the lead exposure hole.

11. 7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the bus bar frame includes a holder portion protruding outward from an edge of the partition surface to facilitate coupling between the frame cover member and the crimp cover block.

12. The battery module according to claim 11 , wherein the crimp cover block is coupled to the holder portion by an interference fit.

13. The battery module according to claim 12 , wherein an inner wall of the holder portion is formed with a tapered portion for shrink fitting.

14. At least one reinforcing rib portion is provided on the plate surface of the flame exhaust cutoff unit, The reinforcing rib portion is a protruding rib provided on the crimping cover block; The battery module according to claim 3 , further comprising: a recessed rib provided on the upper end cover member.

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

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