Battery module

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery module having a structure that can safely discharge gas generated inside the battery module, and a battery module that can block the propagation of high-temperature gas generated in some battery cells to other adjacent battery cells along the periphery of the cell stack. A battery module is provided, comprising a cell stack in which multiple battery cells are stacked; a housing that contains the cell stack and is provided with one or more vent holes; and a vent guide member that guides gas generated in the cell stack to flow toward one or more vent holes, wherein the vent guide member comprises a body portion provided with multiple openings and positioned between the vent holes and the cell stack; and a plurality of guide portions positioned between the body portion and the cell stack and in contact with the surface of the cell stack.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module.

Background Art

[0002] Secondary batteries can be charged and discharged and are widely used in mobile devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and laptop computers. In particular, recently, they have attracted attention as energy sources for electric vehicles, energy storage systems (ESS), etc.

[0003] In electric vehicles and energy storage systems, due to the requirement for high-capacity and high-output power, large-capacity battery devices such as battery modules and battery packs in which a large number of secondary batteries (battery cells) are housed inside a housing are widely used.

[0004] In a battery device in which a large number of secondary batteries are housed, high-temperature gas or flames may be generated in some battery cells due to external impact, severe charge and discharge, and short circuits between secondary batteries. At this time, if the high-temperature gas or flames ejected from the battery cell transfer to other adjacent battery cells, a chain thermal runaway phenomenon may be caused inside the battery device.

[0005] Therefore, a structure is required that blocks the high-temperature gas ejected from the battery cell from affecting other battery cells and can safely discharge it to the outside of the battery device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention has been devised to solve at least some of the problems of the prior art as described above, and provides a battery module having a structure capable of safely discharging gas generated inside the battery module.

[0007] Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module that can prevent high-temperature gas generated in some battery cells from propagating along the periphery of the cell stack to other adjacent battery cells. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of the present invention provide a battery module comprising: a cell stack in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked; a housing in which the cell stack is housed and which is provided with one or more vent holes; and a vent guide member that guides gas generated in the cell stack to flow toward one or more vent holes, wherein the vent guide member comprises a body portion disposed between the vent holes and the cell stack and provided with a plurality of openings; and a plurality of guide portions disposed between the body portion and the cell stack and in contact with the surface of the cell stack.

[0009] In the embodiment, multiple guide portions may be formed by cutting out a region of a plate-shaped body portion to create a notch portion, which is then bent in the direction toward the cell laminate.

[0010] In the embodiment, the multiple openings may be empty spaces formed by bending the notched portion in the body.

[0011] In an embodiment, the cell stack further includes one or more protective members positioned between a plurality of battery cells and facing the electrode housings of the plurality of battery cells, and the plurality of guide portions may include one or more first guide portions that abut against the ends of the protective members; and one or more second guide portions that abut against the electrode housings.

[0012] In the embodiment, one or more first guide portions and one or more second guide portions may be arranged alternately along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells.

[0013] In the embodiment, the battery cells include lead tabs extending in a first direction from the electrode housing, and the vent guide member may be positioned to face the cell stack in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

[0014] In this embodiment, multiple guide portions may protrude from the body portion toward the cell laminate.

[0015] In this embodiment, the length of the multiple guide sections in the first direction may be shorter than the length of the body section in the first direction.

[0016] In the embodiment, the housing includes a lower frame to which the cell laminate is attached; and an upper cover coupled to the lower frame and covering the upper part of the vent guide member, one or more vent holes may be located in the upper cover.

[0017] In the embodiment, at least one region of one or more vent holes may face at least one of a plurality of openings in a second direction.

[0018] In an embodiment, the battery module may further include a first fixing member for securing the body portion to the inner surface of the housing.

[0019] In an embodiment, the first fixing member includes a through portion that penetrates the housing and a flange portion provided at the end of the through portion, and the housing may include a first accommodating groove that accommodates the flange portion so that the flange portion does not protrude from the surface of the housing.

[0020] In an embodiment, the battery module further includes a second fixing member fastened to a through portion of the first fixing member, and the body portion may include a second housing groove for housing the second fixing member such that the second fixing member does not protrude from the surface of the body portion.

[0021] In the embodiment, the body and the multiple guide parts may be made of aluminum. [Effects of the Invention]

[0022] According to an embodiment, a battery module capable of safely discharging high-temperature gas generated in a battery cell to the outside can be realized.

[0023] Also, according to an embodiment, a battery module can be provided that can block the propagation of high-temperature gas generated in some battery cells to other adjacent battery cells along the periphery of the cell stack.

[0024] Also, according to an embodiment, through a vent guide member having a simple structure, the manufacturer can guide the flow direction of the gas inside the battery module in a desired direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of the battery module. [Figure 2] It is an exploded perspective view of the battery module. [Figure 3] It is a reference diagram showing the configuration of the cell stack included in the battery module. [Figure 4] It is a rear perspective view of the vent guide member before the guide portion is formed. [Figure 5] It is a rear perspective view of the vent guide member with the guide portion formed. [Figure 6] It is an exemplary cross-sectional view according to the I-I' portion of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] In the battery module according to another embodiment, it is a reference diagram for explaining the combination of the upper cover and the vent guide member. [Figure 9] It is an exemplary cross-sectional view of the battery module according to another embodiment.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] Prior to a detailed description of the present invention, terms and words used herein and in the claims should not be interpreted in a manner limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but rather in a manner consistent with the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that inventors can appropriately define terms as concepts in order to best describe their invention. Accordingly, the embodiments described herein and the configurations illustrated in the drawings represent only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention; therefore, it should be understood that, at the time of filing, there may be a variety of equivalents and variations that can be substituted therefor.

[0027] The same reference numerals or symbols in the drawings attached to this specification indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same function. For the sake of explanation and understanding, different embodiments may also be described using the same reference numerals or symbols. That is, even if multiple drawings illustrate components with the same reference numerals, not all of the drawings necessarily represent a single embodiment.

[0028] In the following descriptions, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Terms such as “contains” or “constitutes” are intended to specify the existence of features, figures, stages, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should be understood not to preemptively exclude the existence or possibility of adding one or more different features, figures, stages, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0029] Furthermore, in the following explanation, terms such as upper, top, lower, bottom, side, front, and rear are used based on the direction shown in the drawing, and it should be made clear beforehand that they may be used differently if the direction of the object in question is changed.

[0030] Furthermore, within this specification and the claims, terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first," "second," etc., may be used to distinguish between components. Such ordinal numbers are used to distinguish identical or similar components from one another, and the use of such ordinal numbers should not restrict the meaning of the terms. For example, the order of use or arrangement of components combined with such ordinal numbers should not be restricted by the numbers. If necessary, the ordinal numbers may be used alternately with each other.

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings. However, the concept of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented. For example, a person skilled in the art who understands the concept of the present invention may propose other embodiments that fall within the scope of the present invention through the addition, modification, or deletion of components, and these too would fall within the scope of the present invention. In the drawings, the shape and size of elements, etc., may be exaggerated for clearer explanation.

[0032] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the battery module 10.

[0033] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module 10.

[0034] Figure 3 is a reference diagram showing the configuration of the cell stack 100 included in the battery module 10.

[0035] The battery module 10 may include a housing 200 having an internal space, a plurality of battery cells 110 housed in the internal space, and an end cover assembly 400 which includes conductive busbars coupled to at least one side of the housing 200 and electrically connected to the battery cells 110.

[0036] The housing 200 provides an internal space in which one or more cell stacks 100 can be accommodated. The housing 200 may be formed of a material having a predetermined rigidity to protect the cell stacks 100 and other electrical components housed in the internal space from external impacts. For example, the housing 200 may include a metallic material such as iron, stainless steel, or aluminum.

[0037] The housing 200 may include a lower frame 210 and an upper cover 220 that are connected to each other. The lower frame 210 may be a U-shaped frame on which the cell laminate 100 is attached, with the top and both sides open, and the upper cover 220 may be configured to be connected to the open top of the lower frame 210 and cover the top surface of the cell laminate 100.

[0038] However, the structure of the housing 200 is not limited thereto, and any shape is possible as long as it has an internal space capable of accommodating at least one cell stack 100. For example, the housing 200 may consist of an integrated monoframe in which the upper cover 220 and the lower frame 210 are formed integrally, with both sides open.

[0039] The housing 200 may be provided with vent holes 221, which are holes from which gas generated in the cell stack 100 can be discharged. For example, referring to Figures 1 and 2, the upper cover 220, which is located on top of the cell stack 100, may be provided with one or more vent holes 221, so that gas generated in the internal space of the housing 200 can be released to the outside of the battery module 10 through the vent holes 221.

[0040] A shielding member (not shown) may be placed above or below the vent hole 221 to shield the vent hole 221. The shielding member (not shown) may consist of a thin resin film or sheet and can block external foreign matter from flowing into the internal space of the housing 200. In the event of thermal runaway of the battery module 10, the shielding member (not shown) can at least partially rupture, allowing gas released from the cell stack 100 to pass through appropriately.

[0041] An end cover assembly 400 may be coupled to one of the open sides of the housing 200. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the end cover assemblies 400 may be provided in pairs and coupled to each of the open sides of the housing 200.

[0042] The end cover assembly 400 may have multiple conductive busbars arranged therein that are electrically connected to multiple battery cells 110 contained in the cell stack 100.

[0043] Multiple battery cells 110 housed in the battery module 10 can be stacked in one direction (for example, the Y-axis direction in Figure 2) to form at least a part of the cell stack 100. In the following description, the stacking direction of the battery cells 110 is referred to as the "cell stacking direction".

[0044] In this embodiment, the battery cells 110 forming the cell stack 100 may be rechargeable and dischargeable secondary batteries. For example, referring to Figure 3, the battery cell 110 may be a pouch-type secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a sealed pouch.

[0045] In a pouch-type secondary battery, the electrode assembly and electrolyte can be housed inside a pouch formed by processing one or more outer materials. The outer material forming the pouch may be made of aluminum laminated film, but the specific material is not limited to this.

[0046] The battery cell 110 may include an electrode housing portion 111 having an internal space for housing an electrode assembly, and a sealing portion 112 formed by sealing the outer material at the end of the electrode housing portion 111.

[0047] The sealing portion 112 may include a first sealing portion 112a formed on the end of the electrode housing portion 111 where the metallic lead tab 113, which is electrically connected to the electrode assembly, protrudes, and a second sealing portion 112b formed on the portion where the lead tab 113 does not protrude. For example, referring to Figure 3, the battery cell 110 may have a tab structure at both ends where a pair of lead tabs 113 extend to both sides of the electrode housing portion 111. In the electrode housing portion 111, the end where the lead tab 113 is exposed may be sealed to form the first sealing portion 112a, and the end where the lead tab 113 is not exposed may be sealed to form the second sealing portion 112b. In this case, in order to improve the reliability of the seal and minimize the area of ​​the sealing portion 112, a part of the second sealing portion 112b may be formed in a form that has been folded at least once.

[0048] However, the shapes shown in Figures 2 and 3 are merely illustrative examples of the battery cell 110, and the battery cell 110 included in the battery module 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to a pouch-type secondary battery. For example, the battery cell 110 may consist of a rectangular secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a rectangular case having a predetermined rigidity, or a cylindrical secondary battery in which an electrode assembly is housed inside a cylindrical case.

[0049] The cell stack 100 may further include protective members 120 that can protect a plurality of battery cells 110.

[0050] For example, the protective member 120 may be a pressure pad that applies a predetermined surface pressure to the battery cell 110 so as to prevent the battery cell 110 from swelling during the charging and discharging process. The pressure pad may further include at least one of polyurethane, silicone, or rubber (EPDM), and the elasticity of these materials can be used to pressurize the battery cell 110.

[0051] Alternatively, the protective member 120 may be an insulating sheet that can block the transfer of high-temperature thermal energy or flames generated in one battery cell 110 to other adjacent battery cells 110. The insulating sheet is made of a material such as mica, silicate, or ceramic wool, which has excellent flame retardancy, heat resistance, and thermal insulation properties, and can effectively block the propagation of thermal energy from inside the cell laminate 100.

[0052] As shown in Figure 3, the multiple protective members 120 and the multiple battery cells 110 can be stacked along the cell stacking direction (for example, the Y-axis direction). However, the number of protective members 120 and battery cells 110 constituting the cell stack 100 is not limited to those shown in the drawing. The number of protective members 120 and battery cells 110, and the stacking pattern can be varied as needed.

[0053] When a large number of battery cells 110 are stacked inside the battery module 10, there is a risk that an event occurring in one battery cell 110 may cascadingly transfer to other battery cells 110. In particular, high-temperature gas or flames generated in the battery cells 110 may flow irregularly around the cell stack 100, potentially impacting the battery module 10. Furthermore, as the gas or flames flow around the cell stack 100, they may form diverse heat propagation paths, potentially worsening the thermal runaway situation.

[0054] To prevent this, the battery module 10 may further include a vent guide member 300 positioned on one side of the cell stack 100, which guides the thermal energy and gases generated in the cell stack 100 to escape stably through the vent holes 221.

[0055] The vent guide member 300 may be positioned between the cell stack 100 and the housing 200. For example, referring to Figure 2, the vent guide member 300 may be positioned between the upper cover 220, which is provided with vent holes 221, and the cell stack 100, and may serve to guide the gas generated in the cell stack 100 toward the vent holes 221 in the upper cover 220.

[0056] When the direction in which the lead tabs 113 extend from the battery cell 110 is defined as the first direction (e.g., the X-axis direction), the upper cover 220, which has vent holes 221, can be positioned along a second direction (e.g., the Z-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction (X-axis direction) relative to the cell stack 100.

[0057] The second direction may be specifically identified as the direction indicating the space or gap between a plurality of battery cells 110 of the cell stack 100.

[0058] A vent guide member 300 is positioned between the upper cover 220 and the cell stack 100 so as to face the cell stack 100 in a second direction (Z-axis direction), and can guide gases and flames generated in the cell stack 100 to flow toward the upper cover 220 (for example, in the Z-axis direction). In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the first direction (X-axis direction) may mean the direction in which the lead tabs 113 of the battery cells 110 protrude along the length of the battery module 10, and the second direction (Z-axis direction) may mean the direction in which the cell stack 100 and the upper cover 220 face each other in the height direction of the battery module 10.

[0059] On the other hand, the placement of the vent guide member 300 is not limited to that shown in Figure 2. For example, if the vent hole 221 is provided on the lower surface of the housing 200, the vent guide member 300 can be placed between the lower surface of the cell laminate 100 and the lower surface of the housing 200, guiding the gas generated in the cell laminate 100 to flow toward the vent hole 221 on the lower surface of the housing 200.

[0060] The vent guide member 300 may be positioned in the intended venting direction in the cell laminate 100, in which case it may be positioned between the cell laminate 100 and the housing 200. If there are multiple intended venting directions in the cell laminate 100, the vent guide member 300 may be positioned in at least one of those multiple directions.

[0061] The vent guide member 300 may include a plurality of openings 330 configured to communicate with the vent holes 221 of the housing 200. Gas generated in the cell stack 100 can pass through the openings 330 of the vent guide member 300 and be safely released to the outside of the battery module 10 through the vent holes 221 of the housing 200.

[0062] In this way, the vent guide member 300 can guide the movement path of gas or flame around the cell stack 100 in a predetermined direction during thermal runaway of the battery cell 110, thereby preventing the generation of unexpected heat propagation paths around the cell stack 100. For this reason, at least a portion of the vent guide member 300 may have a structure that protrudes toward the cell stack 100.

[0063] For the reasons described above, the vent guide member 300 may be positioned such that, when viewed from the point where the vent guide member 300 is located, the cell stack 100 shows multiple spaces or gaps formed by the multiple battery cells 110. That is, gas or flame leaking from any battery cell 110 can be guided toward the vent guide member 300 instead of propagating to an adjacent battery cell 110.

[0064] The detailed structure of the vent guide member 300 will be described below with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0065] Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the vent guide member 300 before the guide portion 320 is formed.

[0066] Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the vent guide member 300 on which the guide portion 320 is formed.

[0067] The vent guide members 300 described in Figures 4 and 5 correspond to the vent guide members 300 described in Figures 1 to 3 above, so redundant explanations can be omitted.

[0068] The vent guide member 300 may include a body portion 310 that constitutes the main body of the vent guide member 300, a plurality of openings 330 provided in the body portion 310, and a plurality of guide portions 320 that guide the gas generated in the cell laminate (for example, 100 in Figures 1 to 3) toward the plurality of openings 330.

[0069] The guide portion 320 may have a structure that protrudes from one side of the body portion 310. For example, referring to Figure 5, the guide portion 320 may be a partition structure that extends downward (for example, in the direction of the Z-axis) from the lower surface of the body portion 310.

[0070] Multiple guide portions 320 may be arranged side by side on one surface of the body portion 310 along the cell stacking direction (for example, the Y-axis direction). An opening 330 may be provided between two adjacent guide portions 320, so that gas generated in the cell stack (100 in Figures 1 to 3) flows between the two guide portions 320 and passes through the opening 330 to the vent guide member 300.

[0071] The guide portion 320 can be formed by bending a notch portion 311 formed in at least a portion of the plate-shaped body portion 310. For example, referring to Figure 4, a notch portion 311 can be formed by cutting a portion of a flat plate member that constitutes the body portion 310, and as shown in Figure 5, the guide portion 320 can be formed by bending this notch portion 311 clockwise or counterclockwise. In this case, the empty space formed by bending the notch portion 311 can be the opening 330 of the vent guide member 300.

[0072] In this way, a vent guide member 300 that can guide the gas flow path inside a battery module (for example, 10 in Figures 1 and 2) can be manufactured through a simple process of cutting and then bending a portion of a flat plate.

[0073] To facilitate the manufacturing process, the vent guide member 300 may be made of a metal material suitable for cutting and bending. For example, the vent guide member 300 may be made of iron or aluminum alloy, which are easy to shape. In particular, metal materials such as iron and aluminum alloy are easy to shape and can withstand the gas generated in the cell laminate 100 without easily burning or melting, so they can effectively serve as guides for the vent path.

[0074] In the vent guide member 300, the length d2 of the guide portion 320 in the first direction (X-axis direction) may be even shorter than the length d1 of the body portion 310 in the first direction (X-axis direction).

[0075] The body portion 310 is inserted between end cover assemblies (e.g., 400 in Figures 1 and 2) that are coupled to both sides of the housing (e.g., 200 in Figures 1 and 2), and can be fixed inside the housing (200 in Figures 1 and 2) so as not to move in the first direction (X-axis direction), which is the longitudinal direction of the battery module (10 in Figures 1 and 2). Furthermore, the guide portion 320 protruding from the lower surface of the body portion 310 has a length d2 that is even shorter than the length d1 of the body portion 310, thus avoiding physical interference or collision with other components (e.g., busbars and various electrical components) located inside the end cover assembly (400 in Figures 1 and 2).

[0076] Furthermore, the length d2 of the guide portion 320 in the first direction (X-axis direction) may be set to be the same as or longer than the length of the corresponding battery cell 110 in the same direction. This is to maximize the separation of the space between two adjacent battery cells 110 and effectively reduce the probability of gas or flame propagating in the Y-axis direction.

[0077] In the following section, with reference to Figures 6 and 7, the vent path formed inside the battery module 10 by the aforementioned vent guide member 300 will be described in more detail.

[0078] Figure 6 is an exemplary cross-sectional view relating to the I-I' portion of Figure 1.

[0079] Figure 7 is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 6.

[0080] The battery module 10 described in Figures 6 and 7 corresponds to the battery module 10 described in Figures 1 through 5 above, so redundant explanations can be omitted.

[0081] The battery module 10 may include a cell stack 100 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 and a plurality of protective members 120 are stacked, an upper cover 220 positioned on top of the cell stack 100 and provided with a plurality of vent holes 221, and a vent guide member 300 positioned between the cell stack 100 and the vent holes 221 to guide the gas flow path.

[0082] The vent guide member 300 may include a body portion 310 positioned between the vent hole 221 of the housing 200 and the cell laminate 100, and a plurality of guide portions 320 that protrude from the body portion 310 and contact the surface of the cell laminate 100.

[0083] Multiple guide portions 320 can protrude from the body portion 310 toward the cell laminate 100. For example, referring to Figure 7, the guide portion 320 can protrude from the body portion 310 in a second direction (Z-axis direction) and its end can contact the surface of the cell laminate 100.

[0084] Some of the multiple guide portions 320 may be in contact with the electrode housing portion 111 of the battery cell 110, while other portions may be in contact with the protective member 120. For example, referring to Figure 7, the multiple guide portions 320 may include a first guide portion 320a whose end abuts against the protective member 120 and a second guide portion 320b whose end abuts against the electrode housing portion 111 of the battery cell 110. In particular, the first guide portion 320a may have its end abutting against the end of the protective member 120, forming a kind of protective partition that penetrates vertically through the inside of the battery module 10 and blocks gas and heat propagation.

[0085] More proactively, the guide portion 320 is configured to pressurize the protective member 120, further increasing the reliability of the heat transmission blocking effect.

[0086] When the guide portion 320 and the protective member 120 are configured to be in contact with or pressurized, the relative lengths of the guide portion 320 and the protective member 120 can be determined by considering the size of the opening 330 and the relative size of the vent hole 221, which will be described later. If the length of the downward projection of the guide portion 320 is configured to be short, the width of the opening 330 formed by bending the notch portion 311 may be reduced, thereby not being able to secure sufficient space for gas or flame to escape. Therefore, the length of the downward projection of the guide portion 320 can be made sufficiently long, and the height of the protective member 120 can be set accordingly.

[0087] The first guide portion 320a and the second guide portion 320b may be arranged alternately along the cell stacking direction (Y-axis direction). However, such alternating arrangement applies to a structure in which two battery cells 110 are stacked between two adjacent protective members 120, and the arrangement order of the first guide portion 320a and the second guide portion 320b can be varied depending on the stacking pattern of the battery cells 110 and the protective members 120.

[0088] The first guide section 320a and the second guide section 320b can act as partitions that divide the space between the cell stack 100 and the upper cover 220 into multiple sub-spaces. That is, gas, flame, and combustion particles generated by thermal runaway in any one of the battery cells 110 in the cell stack 100 can be restricted to flow only between the multiple guide sections 320 located above that battery cell 110, and their flow path can be restricted so that they do not propagate beyond the guide sections 320 to other adjacent parts.

[0089] Gas whose flow in the cell stacking direction is restricted by the guide portion 320 can move upward along the surface of the guide portion 320 and be released to the outside of the battery module 10 through the opening 330 and the vent hole 221. For example, referring to Figure 7, in the body portion 310, the opening 330 is located between the multiple guide portions 320, and at least one region of the vent hole 221 located in the housing 200 is located opposite the opening 330 of the vent guide member 300. Therefore, gas moving upward along the surface of the guide portion 320 can pass through the opening 330 and the vent hole 221 in sequence and be released to the outside of the battery module 10. That is, the vent guide member 300 is located between the cell stack 100 and the vent hole 221 of the housing 200, and can form a gas flow path G extending from the cell stack 100 to the vent hole 221.

[0090] The area of ​​the vent hole 221 may overlap with the area of ​​the opening 330 in at least part. Preferably, the area of ​​the vent hole 221 may be configured to include the area of ​​the opening 330. In this case, the effect of the housing 200 blocking the gas or flame passing through the vent guide member 300 is minimized, enabling effective release, which may also contribute to reducing the weight of the housing 200.

[0091] In this way, the vent guide member 300 blocks the diffusion of gas and flames from the vicinity of the cell stack 100 along the cell stacking direction (Y-axis direction) and guides them to flow toward the vent hole 221 (Z-axis direction), thereby preventing chain reactions of ignition from occurring inside the battery module 10 due to gas and flames generated in some of the battery cells 110.

[0092] On the other hand, the vent guide member 300 can be fixed in place while sandwiched between the cell laminate 100 and the housing 200. For example, referring to Figures 6 and 7, the body portion 310 of the vent guide member 300 can be in close contact with the lower surface of the upper cover 220, and the guide portion 320 protruding from the body portion 310 can be in contact with the surface of the cell laminate 100. As a result, the vent guide member 300 can be fixed in a state where one side is in contact with the housing 200 (e.g., the upper cover 220) and the other side opposite to that is in contact with the cell laminate 100, that is, sandwiched between the housing 200 and the cell laminate 100.

[0093] However, the fixing structure of the vent guide member 300 is not limited to those described above. For example, in other embodiments, the vent guide member 300 may be fastened and fixed to the housing 200 through a fixing member.

[0094] In the following section, the battery module 10, which further includes fixing members, will be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9.

[0095] Figure 8 is a reference diagram illustrating the connection between the upper cover 220' and the vent guide member 330' in a battery module 10' according to another embodiment.

[0096] Figure 9 is an exemplary cross-sectional view of a battery module 10' according to another embodiment.

[0097] The battery module 10' described in Figures 8 and 9 includes all the features of the battery module 10 described in Figures 1 to 7, but further includes a fixing member 500 for fixing the position of the vent guide member 300'. Therefore, the remaining features, excluding those related to the fixing member 500, can be described by referring to the explanations in Figures 1 to 7.

[0098] The battery module 10' may further include a fixing member 500 to which a vent guide member 300' can be fixed to the inner surface of the housing 200.

[0099] For example, referring to Figure 8, the fixing member 500 may include a first fixing member 510 that penetrates the upper cover 220' and is fastened to the vent guide member 300', and a second fixing member 520 that is fastened to the end of the first fixing member 510. For example, the first fixing member 510 may be a bolt with a through portion 511 and a flange portion 512 formed at the end of the through portion 511, and the second fixing member 520 may be a nut fastened to the through portion 511 of the bolt. However, the configuration of the fixing member 500 is not limited as described above, and for example, the first fixing member 510 may be directly fastened to the vent guide member 300' without the second fixing member 520 to fix the upper cover 220' and the vent guide member 300' together.

[0100] The upper cover 220' and the vent guide member 300' may be provided with connecting holes H1 and H2 so that the first fixing member 510 can pass through.

[0101] The connecting holes H1 and H2 of the upper cover 220 and the vent guide member 300 can be positioned so as not to overlap with the vent hole 221 and the opening 330, respectively.

[0102] The coupling holes H1 and H2 may be positioned along the ends of the upper cover 220' and the vent guide member 300', but additional holes may be provided in other parts besides the ends to prevent deflection in the central portion. For example, referring to Figure 8, the coupling holes H1 and H2 may be positioned in the upper cover 220' and the vent guide member 300' in three rows aligned in the first longitudinal direction (X-axis direction) and four columns aligned in the widthwise cell stacking direction (Y-axis direction).

[0103] The vent guide member 300' is securely fixed to the lower surface of the upper cover 220' by the first fixing member 510 and the second fixing member 520, and cannot be dislodged even if it is subjected to an impact from outside the battery module 10' or an explosion inside the battery module 10'.

[0104] On the other hand, to prevent the fixing member 500 from protruding further than the surfaces of the upper cover 220' and the vent guide member 300' and interfering with other components inside and outside the battery module 10', the coupling holes H1 and H2 may be provided with recessed accommodating grooves 222 and 340 that can accommodate at least a portion of the fixing member 500. For example, referring to Figures 8 and 9, the first coupling hole H1 of the upper cover 220' may be provided with a first accommodating groove 222 that accommodates the flange portion 512 of the first fixing member 510. Also, the second coupling hole H2 of the vent guide member 300' may be provided with a second accommodating groove 340 that accommodates the second fixing member 520.

[0105] However, the fixing structure for the vent guide member 300' in the battery module 10' is not limited to what has been described above. For example, in addition to the fixing member 500 described above, the battery module 10' may further include an adhesive member applied between the vent guide member 300' and the upper cover 220' for fixing the vent guide member.

[0106] In this embodiment, the vent guide members 300, 300' of the battery modules 10, 10' can guide the gas generated in the cell stack 100 so that it flows toward the side where the vent holes 221 are located (for example, toward the top of the battery modules 10, 10'), allowing it to be safely discharged to the outside of the battery modules 10, 10'.

[0107] Furthermore, the vent guide members 300 and 300' can block the flow of high-temperature gases and flames along the cell stacking direction around the cell stack 100 in the event of thermal runaway, thereby preventing chain reactions of ignition from occurring inside the battery modules 10 and 10'.

[0108] Furthermore, since the vent guide members 300 and 300' can be rapidly mass-produced through a simple process of cutting and bending flat plates, a structure that can safely release gas can be added to the manufacturing process of the battery modules 10 and 10' without complex additional steps.

[0109] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it will be obvious to anyone with average knowledge of the art that various modifications and variations are possible as long as they do not deviate from the technical idea of ​​the present invention as described in the claims. Furthermore, some components of the above-described embodiments may be omitted, and each embodiment may be combined with others. [Explanation of symbols]

[0110] 10: Battery Module 100: Cell laminate 110: Battery cell 120: Protective component 200: Housing 210: Lower frame 220: Top cover 221: Venthole 222: First storage groove 300: Vent guide member 310: Body part 311: Notch section 320: Guide Section 330: Opening 340: Second storage groove 400: End cover assembly 500: Fixing member 510: First fixing member 520: Second fixing member

Claims

1. A cell stack in which multiple battery cells are stacked, A housing in which the cell stack is housed and which has one or more vent holes, A vent guide member that guides the gas generated in the cell laminate to flow toward one or more vent holes, Includes, The aforementioned vent guide member is A body portion is positioned between the vent hole and the cell laminate and has a plurality of openings, A plurality of guide portions are arranged between the body portion and the cell laminate and are in contact with the surface of the cell laminate, A battery module, including...

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide portions are formed by cutting out a region of the plate-shaped body portion and bending the notched portion toward the cell stack.

3. The battery module according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of openings are empty spaces formed by bending the notch portion in the body portion.

4. The aforementioned cell laminate is The system further includes one or more protective members positioned between the plurality of battery cells and facing the electrode housings of the plurality of battery cells, The aforementioned multiple guide sections are, One or more first guide portions that abut the end of the protective member, One or more second guide portions that contact the electrode housing portion, The battery module according to claim 1, including the following:

5. The battery module according to claim 4, wherein the one or more first guide portions and the one or more second guide portions are arranged alternately along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery cells.

6. The plurality of battery cells include lead tabs extending in a first direction from the electrode housing portion, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the vent guide member is arranged to face the cell stack in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of guide portions protrude from the body portion toward the cell stack.

8. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the length of the plurality of guide portions in the first direction is shorter than the length of the body portion in the first direction.

9. The aforementioned housing is The lower frame to which the cell stack is attached, An upper cover is connected to the lower frame and covers the upper part of the vent guide member, Includes, The battery module according to claim 6, wherein one or more vent holes are located in the upper cover.

10. The battery module according to claim 9, wherein at least one region of the one or more vent holes faces at least one of the plurality of openings in the second direction.

11. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a first fixing member for fixing the body portion to the inner surface of the housing.

12. The first fixing member is, The aforementioned housing has a through portion that penetrates it, A flange portion provided at the end of the aforementioned through portion, Includes, The battery module according to claim 11, wherein the housing includes a first housing groove for accommodating the flange portion so that the flange portion does not protrude from the surface of the housing.

13. The present invention further includes a second fixing member fastened to the through portion of the first fixing member, The battery module according to claim 12, wherein the body portion includes a second housing groove for housing the second fixing member so that the second fixing member does not protrude from the surface of the body portion.

14. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the body portion and the plurality of guide portions are made of aluminum.

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