Battery module and battery pack including same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly to a battery module that can be applied to a vehicle requiring a battery capable of bottom venting and top cooling, and a battery pack including the same. A battery module according to the present invention may include a battery cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells, a heat dissipation layer disposed on an upper surface of the battery cell assembly, and a bus bar frame disposed to surround a first surface from which leads of the battery cell assembly protrude and a lower surface of the battery cell assembly.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0037625, filed March 22, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and is particularly effective in being applicable to a vehicle requiring a battery capable of bottom venting and top cooling. [Background technology]

[0003] In recent years, with the depletion of fossil fuels causing rising energy prices and increasing concerns about environmental pollution, the demand for environmentally friendly alternative energy sources has become an essential factor for future life. Therefore, research into various electricity production technologies such as solar, wind, and tidal power has been progressing, and there has also been great interest in power storage devices such as batteries to more efficiently use the electrical energy produced in this way.

[0004] Furthermore, with the technological development and increasing demand for battery-based electronic mobile devices and electric vehicles, the demand for batteries as an energy source is increasing rapidly, and as a result, much research is being conducted on batteries that can meet various demands.

[0005] Batteries have attracted much attention as an energy source for various products such as mobile devices and electric vehicles. In particular, secondary batteries are an excellent energy resource that can replace the use of conventional products that use fossil fuels, and are attracting attention as an environmentally friendly energy source because they do not produce by-products from energy use.

[0006] Meanwhile, secondary batteries are also attracting attention as a power source for electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (Plug-In HEVs), etc., which have been proposed as a means to solve the air pollution caused by conventional gasoline vehicles, diesel vehicles, etc. that use fossil fuels. In other words, such secondary batteries are used in the form of battery packs containing a large number of battery modules.

[0007] Previously, battery modules were designed to be suitable for top-vent and bottom-cooling battery structures. Therefore, battery cells were fixed to the bottom of the module using resin, and vent holes were drilled in the top section to allow flames and sparks to escape from the top. However, this approach presents a problem: it cannot be applied to module structures optimized for bottom-vent structures. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the present invention aims to provide a battery module that can be applied to a vehicle requiring a battery capable of bottom venting and top cooling, and a battery pack including the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells, a heat dissipation layer disposed on an upper surface of the battery cell assembly, and a bus bar frame disposed to surround a first surface from which leads of the battery cell assembly protrude and a lower surface of the battery cell assembly.

[0010] The heat dissipation layer may secure the battery cell assembly.

[0011] The battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention further includes a monoframe that accommodates the battery cell assembly, the heat dissipation layer, and the bus bar frame, and a release hole may be formed on a lower surface of the monoframe.

[0012] The battery module according to the second embodiment of the present invention may further include an upper frame covering the heat dissipation layer and a second surface, which is a longitudinal side surface of the battery cell assembly, and a lower frame coupled to the upper frame and having a release hole formed therein.

[0013] In the battery modules according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the battery cells are sealed and may include a seal portion formed on a surface facing the bus bar frame.

[0014] The battery cell leads may be formed on a lower portion of the first surface adjacent to the sealing portion.

[0015] The bus bar frame may further include a connector formed above a portion where the leads are coupled.

[0016] The battery modules according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention may further include an end plate coupled to the first surface.

[0017] A plurality of the emission holes may be formed.

[0018] A battery pack according to the present invention may include a battery module. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and is particularly effective in being applicable to a vehicle requiring a battery capable of bottom venting and top cooling. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical concept of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters shown in these drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a battery module according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the front of the battery cells according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view showing a bus bar frame coupled to a first surface of a battery module according to first and second embodiments of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so that those skilled in the art can easily understand the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0022] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of parts that are not relevant to the explanation or related known technologies that may obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted, and in this specification, when adding reference symbols to components in each drawing, the same or similar reference symbols will be used throughout the specification to refer to the same or similar components.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted in a limited way to their ordinary and dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a way that is consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, in accordance with the principle that an inventor can appropriately define the concept of a term in order to best explain his or her invention.

[0024] Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, the battery module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5. FIG.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a battery module according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the front of a battery cell according to embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a bus bar frame coupled to a first surface of a battery module according to embodiments 1 and 2 of the present invention.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, a battery module 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention may include a battery cell assembly 10, a heat dissipation layer 20, and a bus bar frame 30.

[0027] The battery cell assembly 10 may be formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells.

[0028] The heat dissipation layer 20 may be disposed on the upper surface of the battery cell assembly 10. The heat dissipation layer 20 may fix the battery cell assembly. The temperature of the battery cell assembly 10 may be reduced through the heat dissipation layer 20. The material of the heat dissipation layer 20 may be resin. Resin is an amorphous solid or semi-solid made of organic compounds and derivatives, and may be a natural resin or a synthetic resin (plastic).

[0029] The bus bar frame 30 may be disposed to surround the first surface 11 from which the leads 13 of the battery cell assembly 10 protrude and the bottom surface of the battery cell assembly 10. Bus bars may be coupled to the bus bar frame 30. The bus bar frame 30 may also serve to support the bottom surface of the battery cell assembly 10. Bus bars may be formed on the bus bar frame 30 facing the first surface 11. The leads 13 may be coupled to the bus bars.

[0030] The bus bar frame 30 may include bus bars that electrically connect the battery cells of the battery cell assembly 10 in series or parallel.

[0031] The battery module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a monoframe 40. The monoframe 40 may accommodate the battery cell assembly 10, the heat dissipation layer 20, and the bus bar frame 30. A discharge hole 41 may be formed on the bottom surface of the monoframe 40. A plurality of discharge holes 41 may be formed. Sparks or flames of the battery module 1 may be discharged through the discharge holes 41.

[0032] In the battery module 1, if the battery cells operate abnormally due to overcharging, over-discharging, overheating, etc., gas may be generated, which may cause the battery cells to ignite or explode. Therefore, the gas, sparks, flames, etc. are discharged through the discharge holes 41.

[0033] The battery module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a sealing portion 12. To be precise, the sealing portion 12 may be formed in each battery cell constituting the battery module 1. Each battery cell includes an electrode that needs to be sealed, and therefore the sealing portion 12 is formed. The sealing portion 12 seals the battery cell and may be formed on the surface facing the bus bar frame 30.

[0034] The surface opposite to the seal portion 12 can then serve as the cooling surface 15. The surface opposite to the seal portion 12 is a smooth surface without any seal marks (or protrusions), and therefore has high cooling efficiency and can serve as the cooling surface 15.

[0035] In conventional battery cells, the cooling surface 15 where the battery cell assembly 10 is cooled and the leads 13 are arranged close to each other. Also, conventionally, the heat dissipation layer is located on the lower side of the battery module and the bus bar frame is located on the upper side. In this case, the leads 13 of the battery cells are formed on the lower side of the first surface 11 close to the cooling surface.

[0036] However, in the present invention, the heat dissipation layer 20 is located on the upper side of the battery module 1, and the bus bar frame 30 is located on the lower side. Therefore, when configuring the leads 13, the battery module 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present invention needs to be configured by inverting a conventional battery cell. As a result, the leads 13 of the battery cell can be formed on the upper side of the first surface 11. However, in this case, there is insufficient space for arranging the connector 70 (described below), etc. Therefore, in embodiment 1 of the present invention, to improve this, the leads 13 of the battery cell can be configured to be formed on the lower side of the first surface 11, close to the sealing portion 12. This can be achieved by configuring the leads 13 to be close to the sealing portion 12 during the battery cell manufacturing step.

[0037] The lead 13 is formed by gathering and welding together the positive electrode tabs connected to the positive electrodes of the battery cells, and gathering and welding together the negative electrode tabs connected to the negative electrodes.

[0038] As described above, the present invention can use a battery cell in which the leads 13 are formed on the lower part of the first surface 11 adjacent to the seal portion 12. Therefore, it may be necessary to change the position of the leads 13 during the notching process of the battery cell. Also, it may be necessary to change the position where the leads 13 protrude during the process of manufacturing a pouch containing the battery cell.

[0039] The battery module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a connector 70. The connector 70 may be disposed on the bus bar frame 30. The connector 70 may be formed above a portion where the leads 13 are coupled to the bus bar frame 30. The connector 70 may electrically connect the battery cell assembly 10 to the outside. The connector 70 may serve to connect a charge / discharge function to the outside.

[0040] The battery module 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include an end plate 80. The end plate 80 may be formed in pair. The end plate 80 may be coupled to the first surface 11 at a portion corresponding to the first surface 11. The end plate 80 may be coupled to the mono-frame 40. The end plate 80 and the mono-frame 40 may be coupled together to completely surround the battery cell assembly 10. The end plate 80 and the mono-frame 40 may be coupled together using a welding method.

[0041] In conventional technology, the battery module 1 is designed with a structure in which the battery cells are fixed to the bottom, a heat dissipation layer 20 capable of cooling is formed, and sparks and flames are vented above the battery module 1. However, with technological developments and the equipment to which the battery module 1 is applied, a structure in which sparks and flames are vented below the battery module 1 has become necessary. Furthermore, when the battery module 1 is applied to a vehicle, for safety reasons, a structure in which sparks and flames from the battery module 1 are vented below the vehicle has become necessary.

[0042] For this reason, the present invention has been devised, and unlike conventional technology, a heat dissipation layer 20 is formed on the upper part of a battery module 1, and a bus bar frame 30 is disposed on the lower part. The heat dissipation layer 20 disposed on the upper part fixes the battery cell assembly 10 and also provides cooling. The bus bar frame 30 disposed on the lower part of the battery module 1 includes discharge holes 31, which has the effect of allowing sparks and flames from the battery module 1 to be discharged downward.

[0043] Embodiment 2 Hereinafter, the battery module according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0044] The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that it includes an upper frame 50 and a lower frame 60. The second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences, while omitting details that are common to the first embodiment as much as possible.

[0045] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a battery module according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] The battery module 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention may further include an upper frame 50 and a lower frame 60 .

[0047] The upper frame 50 may cover the heat dissipation layer 20 and the second surface 14. The second surface 14 may be a side surface in the length direction of the battery cell assembly 10. The upper frame 50 may be formed in a U-shape.

[0048] The lower frame 60 may be coupled to the upper frame 50. The lower frame 60 and the upper frame 50 may be coupled by welding. The lower frame 60 may have a discharge hole 61 formed therein. The lower frame 60 may have a plurality of discharge holes 61 formed therein. Sparks or flames of the battery module 1 may be discharged through the discharge holes 61.

[0049] The upper frame 50 and the lower frame 60 may be coupled to end plates 80 to enclose the battery cell assembly 10. The upper frame 50 and the lower frame 60 may be coupled to the end plates 80, respectively.

[0050] The battery module 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, like the battery module 1 according to the first embodiment, can achieve the same effects by forming the discharge holes 61 in the lower part of the battery module 1 to discharge sparks and flames to the lower part and forming the heat dissipation layer 20 in the upper part. The second embodiment has the effect of being applicable to a structure that uses a battery module frame different from that of the first embodiment.

[0051] The battery pack can include the battery module 1 according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

[0052] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the appended claims by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 Battery Module 10 Battery Cell Assembly 11 Page 1 12 Seal part 13 Lead 20 Heat dissipation layer 30 Busbar Frame 40 Monoframe 41, 61 Emission Hall 50 Upper Frame 60 Lower Frame 70 Connector 80 End Plate

Claims

1. a battery cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells; a heat dissipation layer disposed on an upper surface of the battery cell assembly; a bus bar frame disposed to surround a first surface from which the leads of the battery cell assembly protrude and a lower surface of the battery cell assembly.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the heat dissipation layer fixes the battery cell assembly.

3. a monoframe that houses the battery cell assembly, the heat dissipation layer, and the bus bar frame; The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the monoframe has a lower surface on which a release hole is formed.

4. an upper frame covering the heat dissipation layer and a second surface of the battery cell assembly, the second surface being a side surface in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell assembly; The battery module of claim 2 , further comprising: a lower frame coupled to the upper frame and having a release hole formed therein.

5. The battery module according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the battery cells are sealed and include a seal portion formed on a surface facing the bus bar frame.

6. The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the leads of the battery cells are formed on a lower portion of the first surface adjacent to the sealing portion.

7. The battery module of claim 6 , further comprising a connector formed in the bus bar frame above a portion where the leads are coupled.

8. The battery module of claim 6 , further comprising an end plate coupled to the first surface.

9. The battery module of claim 3 , wherein the discharge holes are formed in a plurality.

10. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 1.

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