Battery packs and automobiles containing them

Abstract

A battery pack and an automobile including the same are disclosed. A battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery cells and a pack case in which the plurality of battery cells are housed and a pack vent portion is formed through which the flame or gas is vented, wherein the battery cells themselves have cell vent portions and the cell vent portions of the battery cells communicate with the pack vent portions of the pack case.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0127393 filed on September 22, 2023, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0103983 filed on August 5, 2024, and all the content disclosed in the specifications and drawings of those applications is incorporated into this application.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery pack and a vehicle including the same, and more particularly, to a battery pack capable of discharging flames or gases generated in battery cells provided in the battery pack in a preset direction, and a vehicle including the same.

Background Art

[0003] Generally, a secondary battery refers to a battery capable of repeated charging and discharging, such as a lithium-ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a nickel cadmium battery, a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel zinc battery, etc. A battery cell, which is the most basic secondary battery, can provide an output voltage of about 2.5V to 4.2V.

[0004] Recently, as such battery cells are applied to devices that require a high output voltage and a large charge capacity, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESSs), a battery module configured by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel, and a battery pack configured by further connecting such battery modules in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel are widely used.

[0005] Lithium-ion batteries have attracted attention due to their advantages such as high operating voltage and significantly higher energy density. However, because they use organic electrolytes, overcharging can induce overcurrent and overheating, which can ultimately lead to explosions or fires.

[0006] In other words, if a flame occurs in at least one of the battery cells inside the case of a battery module in a battery pack, and the flame escapes to the outside of the battery module case, it could not only spread to other battery modules but also potentially create a dangerous situation for the user.

[0007] For example, if a battery module or battery pack is installed in an electric vehicle and a flame erupts from a battery cell, and that flame escapes to the outside, there is a risk of the driver of the electric vehicle being burned, creating a dangerous situation.

[0008] Alternatively, if a flame originating in any battery module spreads to an adjacent battery module, a chain reaction of flames could damage, completely destroy, or explode the battery module or battery pack, compromising the safety of the battery module or battery pack. Furthermore, if gas is generated from the battery cells inside the battery module and this gas is released in an undesirable direction, it can create a variety of additional problems.

[0009] Therefore, directional venting, which controls the direction of exhaust of high-temperature gases or flames generated in each battery cell to a predetermined direction, becomes important.

[0010] However, with conventional battery cells, flames or gases can be emitted from unexpected sealing points rather than predetermined locations, and these flames or gases can move in undesirable directions, creating safety problems not only for the battery cells themselves but also for the battery modules and battery packs. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] The present invention aims to provide a battery pack and an automobile including it that can vent flames or gases generated by ignition in battery cells in a predetermined direction (directional venting).

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same that can prevent chain-reaction thermal runaway and improve the safety of battery cells by directional venting of flame or gas.

[0013] Furthermore, another objective of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including it that can reduce the weight and volume of the battery pack and increase the energy density.

[0014] Furthermore, another objective of the present invention is to provide a battery pack and an automobile including the same that facilitate the handling and installation of battery cells incorporated in the battery pack.

[0015] However, the technical problems that this invention aims to solve are not limited to those described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery pack may be provided that includes a plurality of battery cells and a pack case in which the plurality of battery cells are housed and a pack vent portion is formed through which flame or gas is vented, wherein a cell vent portion is formed in the battery cell itself, and the cell vent portion of the battery cell communicates with the pack vent portion of the pack case.

[0017] In one embodiment, the pack vent portion may be formed at the bottom of the pack case.

[0018] In one embodiment, the pack case may be formed with a directional vent channel that communicates with the pack vent section and provides a path for discharging the flame or gas to the outside of the pack case.

[0019] In one embodiment, the directional vent channel may be formed below the pack vent portion.

[0020] In one embodiment, the pack case includes a lower frame, and the lower frame may have cooling channels formed therein to cool not only the battery cells but also the flame or gas discharged from the pack vent.

[0021] In one embodiment, the cooling channel may be formed inside the lower frame.

[0022] In one embodiment, the cooling channel may be formed in a direction intersecting the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged.

[0023] In one embodiment, the cooling channel may be formed on at least one of the two sides of the pack vent.

[0024] In one embodiment, the lower frame includes a main body and a lower plate coupled to the main body, and includes at least one partition member for defining the cooling channel, the cooling channel being formed between the partition member and the lower plate.

[0025] In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of battery modules, each containing a plurality of battery cells, with module vents formed in each battery module, and the cell vents of the battery cells, the module vents of the battery modules, and the pack vents of the pack case are all in communication with each other.

[0026] In one embodiment, the battery module includes a module case in which the plurality of battery cells are housed and a module vent portion through which flame or gas is vented is formed. When the cell vent portion of the battery cell ruptures, the cell vent portion, the module vent portion of the module case, and the pack vent portion of the pack case may communicate with each other.

[0027] In one embodiment, the module vent portion may be formed at a lower portion of the module case.

[0028] In one embodiment, a thermal resin application region and a non-application region are present at a lower portion of the module case, and the module vent portion may be formed in the non-application region of the thermal resin.

[0029] In one embodiment, the module case includes a lower case and side cases, and at least one of the side cases may be formed by being bent from the lower case.

[0030] In one embodiment, the module case may include a U-shaped case.

[0031] In one embodiment, the module case includes an upper case, and an upper vent prevention member for preventing flame or gas from venting upward may be disposed below the upper case.

[0032] In one embodiment, the upper vent prevention member may be a compression pad disposed between the upper case and the battery cell.

[0033] In one embodiment, the upper vent prevention member may be made of silicone.

[0034] In one embodiment, the upper vent prevention member may be a thermal resin applied to the battery cell.

[0035] In one embodiment, the module case includes a side case, and a side vent prevention member may be disposed inside the side case to prevent flames or gases from being vented to the side.

[0036] In one embodiment, the side vent prevention member may be positioned on the terrace portion of the plurality of battery cells.

[0037] In one embodiment, the side vent prevention member may be made from silicone.

[0038] In one embodiment, the battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell, which includes an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate having a first polarity, a second electrode plate having a second polarity, and a separator membrane interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate; electrode leads connected to the electrode assembly; and a cell case that houses the electrode assembly, supports the electrode leads, and has a sealing portion and an unsealed portion, wherein the cell vent portion may be formed in the unsealed portion of the cell case.

[0039] In one embodiment, the cell vent portion may include a through hole formed in the non-sealing portion of the cell case, and a thin film bonded to the non-sealing portion so as to block the through hole.

[0040] In one embodiment, the thin film of the cell vent portion may be formed to be thinner than the thickness of the non-sealing portion of the cell case.

[0041] In one embodiment, the thin film of the cell vent portion may be formed from a material with a lower melting point than the non-sealing portion of the cell case.

[0042] In one embodiment, the thin film may be formed from a metallic material.

[0043] In one embodiment, the thin film can be joined to the non-sealing portion by welding or bonding.

[0044] In one embodiment, the cell vent portion may have a line-shaped groove or notch formed therein.

[0045] In one embodiment, the groove or notch portion may include a center line formed in the center, a first end line extending from one end of the center line, and a second end line extending from the other end of the center line.

[0046] In one embodiment, the cell vent portion may rupture before the sealing portion due to the flame or gas.

[0047] In one embodiment, the non-sealing portion is provided in multiple locations, and the cell vent portion may be formed in the non-sealing portion with the smallest area among the multiple non-sealing portions.

[0048] In one embodiment, a cell cover may be further included to surround and support the cell case in order to reinforce the rigidity of the cell case.

[0049] In one embodiment, an opening is formed at the bottom of the cell cover, and the cell vent can be positioned to face downward in relation to the opening.

[0050] In one embodiment, the cell cover includes a first cover portion that covers one side of the cell case, a second cover portion that covers the other side of the cell case, and a third cover portion that connects the first cover portion and the second cover portion and covers the upper part of the cell case, and the opening portion may be formed on the opposite side of the third cover portion.

[0051] In one embodiment, the cell cover may be configured to support the upright position of the cell case.

[0052] Furthermore, according to another aspect of the present invention, an automobile including at least one of the aforementioned battery packs may be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0053] According to embodiments of the present invention, flames or gases generated by ignition in a battery cell can be discharged in a predetermined direction (directional venting).

[0054] Furthermore, directional venting of flames or gases can prevent chain reactions of thermal runaway and improve the safety of battery cells.

[0055] Furthermore, it is possible to reduce the weight and volume of the battery pack and increase its energy density.

[0056] Furthermore, it makes handling and installing the battery cells built into the battery pack easier.

[0057] However, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above, and other technical effects of the present invention not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description of the invention.

[0058] The following drawings accompanying this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to further illustrate the technical idea of ​​the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be construed as being limited solely to what is shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0059] [Figure 1] This is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows a battery pack case according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which the upper frame is omitted. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged view of section 2A in Figure 2. [Figure 4]This is a cross-sectional view along line X-X' in Figure 1. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 4. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows how the cell vent ruptures and flames or gas are released. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged view of section C in Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view of the lower case and the side case in a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This figure shows a battery cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with the pouch in an unfolded state. [Figure 12] Figure 11 shows how the thin film is bonded to the through-holes formed in the pouch. [Figure 13] Figure 12 shows the pouch folded in the direction of the arrow. [Figure 14] This figure shows the view from the direction of arrow D in Figure 13. [Figure 15] This is a top perspective view showing a configuration in which multiple battery cells according to the first embodiment of the present invention are stacked. [Figure 16] Figure 14 shows a modified embodiment in which a notch is formed in the thin film. [Figure 17] Figure 16 is a bottom perspective view showing multiple battery cells stacked together. [Figure 18] This is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell and cell cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] Figure 18 is a perspective view showing how the cell cover is connected to the battery cell. [Figure 20]This is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of a battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present invention, in which the lower plate is separated. [Figure 21] This is a view along line E in Figure 20. [Figure 22] This is a side cross-sectional view of Figure 20. [Figure 23] This figure shows a battery module according to a modified embodiment of the present invention, in which the upper case is separated. [Figure 24] Figure 23 shows the upper vent prevention member separated. [Figure 25] This figure shows a battery module according to yet another modified embodiment of the present invention, in which the side case of the battery module is separated. [Figure 26] Figure 25 shows how the side vent prevention member is attached to the terrace portion of the battery cell. [Figure 27] This is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] This is a cross-sectional view along the line Y-Y' in Figure 27. [Figure 29] This is an enlarged view of section F in Figure 28. [Figure 30] Figure 29 shows how the cell vent ruptures and flames or gas are released. [Figure 31] This figure shows an automobile including a battery pack according to each embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0060] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Prior to this, terms and words used in this specification 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, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entirety of the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be a variety of equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therein at the time of this application.

[0061] The size of each component or specific part of a component in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown schematically for the sake of clarity and ease of explanation. Therefore, the size of each component may not fully reflect its actual size. Specific descriptions of known functions or configurations related to the present invention will be omitted if they are deemed to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the invention.

[0062] As used herein, the terms “joining” or “connecting” include not only cases where one member is directly joined or directly connected to another member, but also cases where one member is indirectly joined or indirectly connected to another member via a connecting member.

[0063] The present invention may be embodied by each of the following embodiments independently. Furthermore, the present invention may be embodied by a combination of two or more of the following embodiments. Each of the following embodiments can be embodied independently, as well as freely combined with one another.

[0064] Figure 1 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram showing the pack case in a battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with the upper frame omitted; Figure 3 is an enlarged view of portion A in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X' in Figure 1; Figure 5 is an enlarged view of portion B in Figure 4; and Figure 6 shows the cell vent portion rupturing and releasing flames or gas in Figure 5.

[0065] Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the battery pack 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may be configured to include a plurality of battery cells 10, a plurality of battery modules 20, and a pack case 310.

[0066] In one embodiment, the battery cell 10 is housed in the module case 210 of the battery module 20, and the module case 210 containing the battery cell 10 is housed in the pack case 310, thereby forming a battery pack 30. In another embodiment, the battery cell 10 can be directly housed in the pack case 310 of the battery pack 30, which will be described later.

[0067] The battery modules 20 are provided in multiple units and arranged in various ways. For example, they can be arranged horizontally and vertically as shown in Figure 1, but are not limited to this.

[0068] Referring to Figure 4, multiple battery cells 10 are stacked in the battery module 20. There are various ways in which the multiple battery cells 10 are stacked. As will be described in detail later, the battery cells 10 may be stacked in the module case 210 as battery cells only, without cell covers 150, or the battery cells may be stacked in the module case 210 with cell covers 150 (see Figure 18) attached to them.

[0069] Referring to Figure 5, the battery module 20 has a module vent 216, and the module vent 216 of the battery module 20 may be configured to communicate with a pack vent 316 formed in the pack case 310. The battery cell 10 has a cell vent 136, and as shown in Figure 6, if the cell vent 136 of the battery cell 10 bursts due to flame or gas, the cell vent 136 may be configured to communicate with the module vent 216 of the module case 210. The module vent 216 may be formed as an opening. The pack vent 316 may also be formed as an opening. Specifically, referring to Figure 6, if the cell vent section 136 of the battery cell 10 ruptures, the cell vent section 136, the module vent section 216 of the battery module 20, and the pack vent section 316 of the pack case 310 all become connected. As a result, flames or gases generated from the battery cell 10 can be discharged to the outside of the pack case 310 through the cell vent section 136, the module vent section 216, and the pack vent section 316. In other words, directional venting becomes possible, where flames or gases generated by ignition in the battery cell are discharged in a predetermined direction. Such directional venting of flames or gases can prevent chain-reaction thermal runaway and improve the safety of the battery cell.

[0070] A specific and detailed explanation of the battery module 20 will be provided later.

[0071] Referring to Figure 1, the pack case 310 houses multiple battery modules 20. The pack case 310 may consist of, for example, a lower frame 311, a side frame 312, an inner frame 313, a partition frame 314, and an upper frame 315.

[0072] The lower frame 311 is configured to accommodate multiple battery modules 20. The lower frame 311 may, but is not limited to, be formed in the shape of a rectangular plate. The lower frame 311 forms the bottom of the pack case 310.

[0073] The side frame 312 may be configured to extend upward from the edge of the lower frame 311. The side frame 312 defines the height of the pack case 310 and forms a predetermined space between it and the lower frame 311. Multiple battery modules 20 are mounted in the space between the side frame 312 and the lower frame 311. The side frame 312 may include a long side frame 312a with a relatively long length and a short side frame 312b with a relatively short length. However, in another embodiment, the side frames 312 may be formed to be of the same length.

[0074] The inner frame 313 extends upward inside the lower frame 311 and connects to the side frame 312. There may be more than one inner frame 313, and multiple battery modules 20 may be arranged so that they face each other or face each other in the same direction relative to the inner frame 313. The inner frame 313 is oriented in the same direction as the short side frame 312b.

[0075] The partition frame 314 is connected to the inner frame 313. Here, the partition frame 314 is positioned in the same direction as the long side frame 312a. The partition frame 314 is then interposed between multiple battery modules 20. In Figure 1, one partition frame 314 is positioned between two adjacent battery modules 20, but the arrangement is not limited to this.

[0076] The upper frame 315 is connected to the side frame 312. The upper frame 315 may, but is not limited to, a rectangular plate.

[0077] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the pack case 310 has pack vent sections 316 through which flames or gases are vented. The number of pack vent sections 316 formed in the pack case 310 can be set in various ways and may be, but is not limited to, a number corresponding to the number of battery cells 10.

[0078] The pack vent section 316 can be formed in the lower part of the pack case 310, for example, in the lower frame 311. When the pack vent section 316 is formed in the lower frame 311 in this way, downward ventilation becomes possible, reducing the risk of burns to the electric vehicle driver. For example, if a flame is generated from the battery cells 10 inside the battery pack 30 while the battery pack 30 is installed in an electric vehicle, and that flame escapes to the outside, the driver operating the electric vehicle may be burned or put in a dangerous situation.

[0079] The battery pack 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention can protect the driver from flames because even if flames or gases are generated in the battery cells 10, ventilation is possible downward from the pack vent portion 316 formed in the lower frame 311.

[0080] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, in order to provide the downward venting described above, the pack case 310 may have a directional vent channel 317 that communicates with the pack vent section 316 and provides a path for discharging flames or gases to the outside of the pack case 310. Here, the directional vent channel 317 may be formed below the pack vent section 316.

[0081] Referring to Figure 6, flames or gases generated in the battery cell 10 can rupture the cell vent section 136 of the cell case 130, travel downward through the module vent section 216 of the module case 210 and the pack vent section 316 of the pack case 310, and then be completely discharged to the outside of the pack case 310 through the directional vent channel 317 communicating with the pack vent section 316 (see arrow in Figure 6).

[0082] Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom of a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 8 is an enlarged view of portion C in Figure 7, Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the lower case and side case in a battery module according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] Referring to Figures 7 and 9, the battery module 20 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is composed of a plurality of battery cells 10 and a module case 210.

[0084] Multiple battery cells 10 can be stacked on top of each other. The battery cells 10 have diverse structures, and multiple battery cells 10 can be stacked in diverse ways.

[0085] A cell vent portion 136 (see Figure 8) may be formed on the battery cell 10 itself. The cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 may be positioned in a location corresponding to the module vent portion 216 formed on the module case 210 (see Figures 7 and 8), and may be configured to communicate with the module vent portion 216 when the cell vent portion 136 ruptures. That is, as described above, when the cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 ruptures, the cell vent portion 136, the module vent portion 216 of the battery module 20, and the pack vent portion 316 of the pack case 310 all communicate with each other, and as a result, flames or gases generated from the battery cell 10 can be discharged to the outside of the pack case 310 through the cell vent portion 136, the module vent portion 216, and the pack vent portion 316. In other words, directional venting becomes possible, in which flames or gases generated by ignition in the battery cell are discharged in a predetermined direction.

[0086] A specific and detailed explanation of battery cell 10 will be provided later.

[0087] Referring to Figure 9, multiple battery cells 10 are stacked and housed in the module case 210.

[0088] The module case 210 encloses multiple battery cells 10, thereby protecting the battery cells 10 from external vibrations and shocks.

[0089] The module case 210 can be formed in a shape corresponding to the shape of a stack of multiple battery cells 10. For example, if the stack of multiple battery cells 10 is formed in a hexahedral shape, the module case 210 can also be formed in a corresponding hexahedral shape. However, it is not limited to this.

[0090] The module case 210 may include an upper case 213, a lower case 211, and side cases 212. Referring to Figure 9, side cases 212 are formed on both ends of the lower case 211. Here, the side cases 212 may be formed by bending from the lower case 211. In this case, the lower case 211 and the side cases 212 may be manufactured as a single unit. When the module case 210 is manufactured as a single unit, the joining process becomes simpler, resulting in a simplified design. When the side cases 212 are formed by bending from the lower case 211, they may be formed in a roughly U-shape. However, they do not necessarily have to be U-shaped and may include a shape similar to a U-shape. In this case, the module case 210 may include the U-shaped side cases 212 and lower case 211, and further include the upper case 213. However, the side cases 212 and lower case 211 of the module case 210 may be formed separately and joined by welding or the like.

[0091] The module case 210 may be manufactured, for example, by bending a plate of metal material. However, the material of the module case 210 is not limited to metal.

[0092] Referring to Figure 7, the module case 210 may have a module vent section 216 through which flames or gases are vented. Here, the module vent section 216 may be formed in the lower part of the module case 210, for example, in the lower case 211. As mentioned above, the module vent section 216 may communicate with both the cell vent section 136 and the pack vent section 316, which are ruptured by flames or gases.

[0093] Referring to Figure 10, the lower part of the module case 210, for example, the lower case 211, may have areas where thermal resin 220 is applied and areas where it is not. The thermal resin 220 is bonded to a cooling plate or the like to transfer heat generated from the battery cell 10. Here, the module vent portion 216 may be formed in the area where the thermal resin 220 is not applied. That is, to prevent interference between the module vent portion 216 and the thermal resin 220, for example, an area where the thermal resin 220 is not applied may be formed in the center of the lower case 211, and the module vent portion 216 may be formed in the area where the thermal resin 220 is not applied. In this state, when the battery cell 10 is mounted in the lower case 211 as shown in Figure 9, the cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 may be positioned at the location of the module vent portion 216 formed in the lower case 211 of the module case 210, as shown in Figure 8. The module vent portion 216 may be formed larger than the cell vent portion 136. Then, in the battery cell 10, the portion where the cell vent portion 136 is not formed comes into contact with the thermal resin 220.

[0094] Figure 11 shows a battery cell according to the first embodiment of the present invention with the pouch unfolded; Figure 12 shows the thin film bonded to the through-holes formed in the pouch in Figure 11; Figure 13 shows the pouch folded in the direction of the arrow in Figure 12; Figure 14 shows the view from the direction of arrow D in Figure 13; and Figure 15 is a top perspective view showing multiple battery cells according to the first embodiment of the present invention stacked together.

[0095] The battery cell 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include various types of battery cells 10. For example, the battery cell 10 may include at least one of a pouch-type battery cell, a cylindrical battery cell, and a prismatic battery cell. However, for the sake of explanation, the following description will focus mainly on the case where the battery cell 10 is a pouch-type battery cell.

[0096] Referring to Figures 11 and 12, the battery cell 10 includes an electrode assembly 110, electrode leads 120, and a cell case 130.

[0097] The electrode assembly 110 may include a first electrode plate having a first polarity, a second electrode plate having a second polarity, and a separation membrane interposed between the first and second electrode plates. For example, the first electrode plate may be a positive electrode plate coated with a positive electrode active material or a negative electrode plate coated with a negative electrode active material, and the second electrode plate may be an electrode plate having the opposite polarity to the first electrode plate. That is, if the first electrode plate is a positive electrode plate, the second electrode plate may be a negative electrode plate, and if the first electrode plate is a negative electrode plate, the second electrode plate may be a positive electrode plate. The electrode assembly 110 can be housed in a battery case with a plurality of positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked on top of each other.

[0098] The electrode assembly 110 may have a structure in which multiple unit cells arranged in the order of first electrode plate / separation membrane / second electrode plate, or bi-cells arranged in the order of first electrode plate / separation membrane / second electrode plate / separation membrane / first electrode plate / separation membrane / second electrode plate are stacked according to the battery capacity.

[0099] The electrode plates of the electrode assembly 110 are formed as a structure in which an active material slurry is coated onto a current collector made of aluminum (Al) or copper (Cu) material. The slurry can usually be formed by stirring granular active material, auxiliary conductors, binders, and plasticizers with a solvent added. Each electrode plate may have uncoated areas where the slurry is not applied.

[0100] The positive electrode plate can be formed by including a positive electrode current collector made of a metal thin plate with excellent conductivity, such as an aluminum foil, and a positive electrode active material layer coated on at least one surface thereof. Further, the positive electrode plate may include a positive electrode tab made of a metal material, such as an aluminum (Al) material, at one side end. The positive electrode tab can extend and protrude from one side end of the positive electrode plate, or can be joined to one side end of the positive electrode plate by welding or a conductive adhesive.

[0101] As the positive electrode active material, a chalcogenide compound in which lithium ions can be intercalated / deintercalated may be used. For example, it can be formed using composite metal oxides such as LiCoO2, LiMn2O4, LiNiO2, LiNi 1-x Co x O2(0 < x < 1), LiMnO2, etc.

[0102] The negative electrode plate can be formed by including a negative electrode current collector made of a conductive metal thin plate, such as a copper (Cu) foil, and a negative electrode active material layer coated on at least one surface thereof. Further, the negative electrode plate may include a negative electrode tab made of a metal material, such as a copper (Cu) or nickel (Ni) material, at one side end. The negative electrode tab can extend and protrude from one side end of the negative electrode plate, or can be joined to one side end of the positive electrode plate by welding or a conductive adhesive.

[0103] The negative electrode active material can also be formed from substances such as carbon (C)-based substances, terraced part 170 (Si), tin (Sn), tin oxide, tin alloy composite, transition metal oxide, lithium metal nitride, or lithium metal oxide so that lithium ions can be intercalated / deintercalated.

[0104] The separator is interposed between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, can block a short circuit that may occur between the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate, and only the movement of lithium ions is possible through the separator.

[0105] The separation membrane can be made from porous polymer films, such as ethylene homopolymers, propylene homopolymers, ethylene / butene copolymers, ethylene / hexene copolymers, or ethylene / methacrylate copolymers, either alone or in a laminated configuration.

[0106] The separation membrane can be made of a conventional porous nonwoven fabric, such as a nonwoven fabric made of high-melting-point glass fiber or polyethylene terephthalate fiber.

[0107] At least one surface of the separation membrane may include a coating layer of inorganic particles. Furthermore, the separation membrane itself may consist of a coating layer of inorganic particles. The particles constituting the coating layer may have a structure in which they are bound to a binder such that an interstitial volume exists between adjacent particles.

[0108] The electrode leads 120 are electrically connected to the electrode assembly 110. The electrode leads 120 are a type of terminal that is exposed to the outside and connected to external equipment, and a conductive material may be used. The electrode leads 120 may include a positive electrode lead and a negative electrode lead.

[0109] The positive electrode lead and the negative electrode lead may be positioned in opposite directions along the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 10, or they may be positioned in the same direction along the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 10.

[0110] In the following explanation, for the sake of clarity, we will focus on the case where the electrode leads 120 are connected to both sides of the electrode assembly 110 in the longitudinal direction.

[0111] The cell case 130 houses the electrode assembly 110 inside. That is, the cell case 130 may include a housing space for housing the electrode assembly 110 inside. In this case, the cell case 130 may house an electrolyte inside, and the electrode assembly 110 may be housed inside in a form in which the electrode assembly 110 is impregnated with the electrolyte.

[0112] The cell case 130 can be made from a metallic material such as aluminum (Al), but the material of the cell case 130 is not limited to this. For the sake of explanation, the following description will focus on the case where the cell case 130 is made from aluminum.

[0113] The cell case 130 may be configured to support the electrode lead 120. In this case, the electrode lead 120 may protrude outside the cell case 130 by a predetermined length.

[0114] Referring to Figures 11 to 13, the cell case 130 can be manufactured by three-sided sealing (see arrow in Figure 12) with the electrode assembly 110 housed inside one cell case 130 (see Figure 11). When three-sided sealing is performed on the cell case 130 in this way, a sealed portion 131 and an unsealed portion 132 (see Figure 14) are formed on the cell case 130. The sealed portion 131 prevents, for example, the electrolyte from leaking out of the inside of the cell case 130, and prevents gases generated during charging and discharging of the battery cell from leaking out of the cell case.

[0115] Referring to Figure 14, the cell vent section 136 for venting flames or gases is formed in the unsealed section 132 of the cell case 130.

[0116] Referring further to Figures 11 and 12, the cell vent portion 136 may include a through hole 137 and a thin film 138.

[0117] Referring to Figure 11, the through-hole 137 is formed in the non-sealed portion 132 of the cell case 130. The through-hole 137 can have various shapes, and may, for example, be rectangular, but is not limited to this.

[0118] Referring to Figure 13, the sealing portion 131 can be provided in multiple locations. In Figure 13, it is formed as a three-sided sealing, so three sealing portions 131 are provided along the edge of the cell case 130.

[0119] Referring to Figure 13, multiple non-sealing portions 132 can also be provided. For example, a non-sealing portion 132a is formed in the folded portion of the cell case 130, and a non-sealing portion 132b is formed on the widest surface of the pouch. Here, the cell vent portion 136 may be formed in the non-sealing portion 132a with the smallest area among the multiple non-sealing portions 132a, 132b (see non-sealing portion 132 in Figure 14).

[0120] Referring to Figure 12, the thin film 138 can be bonded to the unsealed portion 132 so as to block the through hole 137. The thin film 138 can be formed from a variety of materials, for example, from a metal. In this case, the thin film 138 can be bonded to the unsealed portion 132 by welding or bonding.

[0121] The cell vent section 136 may be configured to rupture before the sealing section 131 due to flame or gas.

[0122] In one embodiment, the thin film 138 of the cell vent portion 136 may be formed thinner than the thickness of the non-sealing portion 132 of the cell case 130. When the thin film 138 is formed thinner than the cell case 130 in this way, if gas is generated inside the battery cell 10 and the internal pressure increases, the thin film 138 will rupture more easily, thereby allowing the gas to be easily discharged to the outside of the cell case 130.

[0123] As a modified embodiment of the above embodiment, the thin film 138 of the cell vent portion 136 may be formed from a material with a lower melting point than the non-sealing portion 132 of the cell case 130. In this way, when the thin film 138 is formed from a material with a lower melting point than the cell case 130, if a flame is generated inside the battery cell 10 and the temperature increases, the thin film 138 portion will easily melt and rupture, and the flame will be easily discharged to the outside of the cell case 130.

[0124] Referring to Figure 15, the battery cells 10 may be stacked without the cell cover 150. In this case, tape 160 may be attached to the top of the battery cells 10. Tape 160 may be attached to the portion after the protruding end of the pouch formed after sealing the cell case 130 has been folded.

[0125] Figure 16 shows a modified embodiment of Figure 14 in which a notch is formed in the thin film, and Figure 17 is a bottom perspective view showing multiple battery cells from Figure 16 stacked together.

[0126] Referring to Figures 16 and 17, the cell vent portion 136 may have a line-shaped groove or notch portion 140 formed thereon. When a groove or notch portion 140 is formed in the cell vent portion 136 in this way, it has the effect of making it easier for the cell vent portion 136 to rupture due to flame or gas.

[0127] The groove or notch portion 140 can be formed in various shapes, and may include, for example, a center line 141, a first end line 142, and a second end line 145. The following description will focus on the case where a line-shaped notch portion 140 is formed. Note that the description of the groove portion will be replaced by the description of the notch portion 140.

[0128] The center line 141 is formed in the center. The size of the notch 140 can be appropriately adjusted depending on the scale or size, capacity, etc. of the battery cell 10. The first end line 142 of the notch 140 may be formed to extend from one end of the center line 141, and the second end line 145 of the notch 140 may be formed to extend from the other end of the center line 141.

[0129] The first end line 142 may, but is not limited to, include a first direction line 143 extending in a first direction from one end of the center line 141 and a second direction line 144 extending in a second direction from one end of the center line 141. When the first direction line 143 and the second direction line 144 are formed, rupture becomes easier than when only the center line 141 is formed.

[0130] As shown in Figure 16, the first direction line 143 and the second direction line 144 can be formed symmetrically to each other, but are not limited to this.

[0131] The second end line 145 may, but is not limited to, include a third direction line 146 extending in a third direction from the other end of the center line 141, and a fourth direction line 147 extending in a fourth direction from the other end of the center line 141. When the third direction line 146 and the fourth direction line 147 are formed, it becomes easier to determine their presence than when only the center line 141 is formed, similar to the first direction line 143 and the second direction line 144.

[0132] As shown in Figure 16, the third direction line 146 and the fourth direction line 147 may be formed symmetrically with respect to each other, but are not limited to this. Similarly, the first end line 142 and the second end line 145 may also be symmetrically with respect to each other, but are not limited to this.

[0133] Referring to Figure 17, the battery cells 10 shown in Figure 16 can be stacked without the cell cover 150.

[0134] Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of a battery cell and cell cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 19 is a perspective view showing how the cell cover is coupled to the battery cell in Figure 18.

[0135] Referring to Figures 18 and 19, the cell cover 150 may be provided to surround and support the battery cell 10 to reinforce the rigidity of the cell case 130. That is, the cell cover 150 may be configured to partially surround the battery cell 10 such that at least one side of the surrounded battery cell 10 is exposed to the outside.

[0136] An opening 154 may be formed at the bottom of the cell cover 150. For example, referring to Figure 19, an opening 154 is formed at the bottom of the cell cover 150, so that when the cell cover 150 is coupled to the battery cell 10, the bottom of the battery cell 10 is exposed to the outside, and the cover is positioned to surround the sides and top of the battery cell 10.

[0137] Referring to Figures 18 and 19, the cell cover 150 may be configured to include a first cover portion 151, a second cover portion 152, and a third cover portion 153.

[0138] The first cover portion 151 may be configured to cover one side of the battery cell 10. The first cover portion 151 may be configured to extend downward from one end of the third cover portion 153. The first cover portion 151 may also be configured to surround a large surface of the battery cell housed inside.

[0139] The second cover portion 152 may be configured to cover the other side of the cell case 130. The second cover portion 152 may be positioned horizontally away from the first cover portion 151. The second cover portion 152 may be configured to extend downward from the other end of the third cover portion 153. The second cover portion 152 may be configured to surround the broad surface of the battery cell housed inside.

[0140] The third cover portion 153 connects the first cover portion 151 and the second cover portion 152 and covers the upper part of the cell case 130. The opening portion 154 may be formed on the opposite side of the third cover portion 153.

[0141] The cell vent portion 136 is positioned at the bottom to correspond to the opening 154, in which case the cell vent portion 136 may be exposed downward from the opening 154 of the cell cover 150. The cell cover 150 may be configured so that the cell vent portion 136 of the enclosed battery cell 10 is exposed toward the bottom surface of the battery module 20 or battery pack 30.

[0142] The cell cover 150 may be configured to support the upright position of the battery cell 10. That is, the cell cover 150 may surround one or more battery cells 10 and be configured to maintain the upright position, i.e., standing position, of the surrounded battery cell 10.

[0143] The cell cover 150 can be configured to enclose various numbers of battery cells 10 together. For example, the cell cover 150 may be configured to enclose one battery cell 10, or it may be configured to enclose two or more battery cells 10 together.

[0144] The cell cover 150 may be mounted on the module case 210 of the battery module 20, or it may be mounted directly on the pack case 310 of the battery pack 30. When the cell cover 150 is mounted on the module case 210, the cell cover 150 maintains the upright position of the battery cell 10, as described above. This has the effect of facilitating the handling and installation of the battery cell built into the battery module 20.

[0145] When the cell cover 150 is mounted directly onto the pack case 310, the battery cells 10 can maintain their upright position, which makes handling and installation of the battery cells built into the battery pack 30 easier. Also, since the module case 210 is omitted, the pack case 310 can accommodate even more battery cells 10 by the space previously occupied by the module case 210, thus increasing the energy density. Furthermore, the omission of the module case 210 reduces the weight and volume of the battery pack 30.

[0146] Since the battery cells 10 are in surface contact with the pack case 310, the heat released from each battery cell 10 is directly transferred to the pack case 310, improving cooling performance. In other words, the cooling performance of the battery pack 30 can be ensured more effectively.

[0147] Referring to Figure 19, the cell cover 150 can be formed in an approximately n-shape. In this case, the front, rear, and bottom of the cell cover 150 can be open. However, the shape of the cell cover 150 is not limited to approximately n-shape. The cell cover 150 can be formed in a variety of shapes; for example, the cell cover 150 can be formed in a "square" shape, a "U" shape, or an "O" shape, etc.

[0148] The cell cover 150 can be made from a metal material. In particular, the cell cover 150 can be made from steel, for example, stainless steel (SUS). In this case, stainless steel has excellent mechanical strength or rigidity and a higher melting point than aluminum, so even if a flame occurs in any battery cell 10, melting of the cell cover 150 due to the flame is more effectively prevented. That is, not only can damage or breakage of the battery cell 10 be prevented more effectively, but the handling of the battery cell 10 will also be easier. However, the material of the cell cover 150 is not limited to this.

[0149] The cell cover 150 can be at least partially bonded to the battery cell 10. Furthermore, a thermal resin (not shown) may be interposed between the battery cell 10 and the pack case 310, or between the cell cover 150 and the pack case 310. A thermal resin (not shown) may also be interposed between the battery cell 10 and the module case 210, or between the cell cover 150 and the module case 210.

[0150] Figures 18 and 19 show embodiments in which a groove or notch 140 is formed in the cell vent portion 136. However, as shown in Figure 14, the cell cover 150 can also be applied to battery cells 10 in embodiments in which a groove or notch 140 is not formed in the cell vent portion 136. In this case, the details related to the cell cover 150 are the same as those when a groove or notch 140 is formed in the cell vent portion 136.

[0151] Figure 20 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of a battery pack according to a modified embodiment of the present invention, showing that the lower plate is separated. Figure 21 is a view along line E in Figure 20, and Figure 22 is a side cross-sectional view of Figure 20.

[0152] Referring to Figures 20 to 22, the pack case 310 includes a lower frame 311, in which cooling channels 320 may be formed. The cooling channels 320 formed in the lower frame 311 can cool not only the battery cells 10 but also the flame or gas discharged from the pack vent section 316.

[0153] The lower frame 311 may include a main body 318 and a lower plate 319 coupled to the main body 318. The cooling channel 320 is formed at various locations on the lower frame 311, for example, it may be formed inside the lower frame 311. Referring to Figure 22, when the main body 318 and the lower plate 319 are coupled, the cooling channel 320 may be formed in the space between the main body 318 and the lower plate 319.

[0154] Referring to Figures 20 and 21, the cooling channel 320 may be formed in a direction intersecting the direction in which the multiple battery cells 10 are arranged (in Figure 20, the battery cells 10 arranged inside the battery module 20). For example, the cooling channel 320 may be formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the multiple battery cells 10 are arranged (in Figure 20, the battery cells 10 arranged inside the battery module 20).

[0155] The battery cell 10 can be cooled by forming a cooling channel 320 at the bottom of the battery cell 10 in a direction intersecting the direction in which the battery cell 10 is positioned. A coolant such as air, water, or cooling oil can flow through the cooling channel 320. A variety of coolants can be used, but are not limited to these.

[0156] The cooling channel 320 may be formed in close proximity to at least one of the two sides of the pack vent section 316. As shown in Figure 21, the cooling channel 320 may be formed on both sides of the pack vent section 316. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the cooling channel 320 may be formed on only one side of the pack vent section 316. When formed in close proximity to at least one of the two sides of the pack vent section 316, the flame or gas flowing out of the pack vent section 316 can be cooled by the coolant flowing through the cooling channel 320. This prevents flame propagation and thermal runaway.

[0157] The cooling channel 320 can be formed in various ways. For example, it can be formed by a partition member 330. One or more partition members 330 may be provided to define the cooling channel 320. The cooling channel 320 can be formed in the space between the partition member 330 and the lower plate 319.

[0158] Figure 23 shows a battery module according to a modified embodiment of the present invention, in which the upper case is separated, and Figure 24 shows the upper vent prevention member separated in Figure 23.

[0159] Referring to Figures 23 and 24, the module case 210 may include an upper case 213. An upper vent prevention member 218 may be positioned below the upper case 213 to prevent flames or gases from venting upward. A battery pack 30 according to a first embodiment of the present invention may be configured to discharge flames or gases through a pack vent 316 formed at the bottom of the pack case 310 and a module vent 326 formed at the bottom of the module case 210. For this purpose, it is advantageous to prevent flames or gases from moving in other directions, for example, upwards to the module case 210 or pack case 310. Thus, to prevent upward venting of flames or gases, an upper vent prevention member 218 is positioned below the upper case 213 of the module case 210, thereby allowing flames or gases to move downwards in the event of a thermal event.

[0160] The upper vent prevention member 218 can be of various types, for example, it may be a variety of compression pads placed between the upper case 213 and the battery cell 10. The compression pad may be configured to pressurize the battery cell 10.

[0161] The upper vent prevention member 218 can be made from a variety of materials, and may, for example, be made from silicone, but is not limited to this.

[0162] The upper vent prevention member 218 may be a thermal resin applied to the battery cell 10. A key advantage of using thermal resin is that it allows for better adhesion to the battery cell 10.

[0163] Figure 25 shows a battery module according to yet another modified embodiment of the present invention, in which the side case of the battery module is separated, and Figure 26 shows the side vent prevention member attached to the terrace portion of the battery cell 10 in Figure 25.

[0164] Referring to Figures 25 and 26, the module case 210 may include a side case 212. A side vent prevention member 217 may be positioned inside the side case 212 to prevent flame or gas from venting to the side.

[0165] For the same reasons as those for the upper vent prevention member 218 described above, it is advantageous to prevent flames or gases from moving to the sides of the module case 210 or pack case 310 in order to discharge flames or gases from the pack vent section 316 formed at the bottom of the pack case 310 and the module vent section 326 formed at the bottom of the module case 210. Thus, to prevent flames or gases from being vented to the sides, a side vent prevention member 217 may be placed inside the side case 212 of the module case 210, thereby allowing flames or gases to move downwards when a thermal event occurs.

[0166] The side vent prevention member 217 can be installed in various positions; for example, referring to Figures 25 and 26, it can be installed on the terrace portion 170 of multiple battery cells 10.

[0167] The side vent prevention member 217 can be made from a variety of materials that have thermal insulation and fire resistance properties. For example, it can be made from silicone, but the material of the side vent prevention member 217 is not limited to this.

[0168] Figure 27 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a battery pack according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view along Y-Y' in Figure 27, Figure 29 is an enlarged view of portion F in Figure 28, and Figure 30 shows the cell vent rupturing and the release of flames or gas in Figure 29.

[0169] Referring to Figure 27, the battery pack 30 according to the second embodiment may be configured to include a plurality of battery cells 10 and a pack case 310.

[0170] In the first embodiment, the battery pack 30 includes the battery module 20, but in the second embodiment, the battery module 20 is omitted, and the battery cells 10 are directly housed in the battery pack 30, which is a difference from the first embodiment. However, the parts that are common to the parts described in the first embodiment are applicable to the second embodiment. Also, the parts of the parts described in the second embodiment that are applicable to the first embodiment may be applied to the first embodiment.

[0171] Referring to Figures 27 and 28, the battery cell 10 can be directly housed in the pack case 310 of the battery pack 30. With this method, the battery cell 10 can be further housed in the space previously occupied by the module case 210 of the battery module 20 within the battery pack 30, thereby improving space efficiency and increasing battery capacity. The omission of the module case 210 also has the effect of reducing weight and volume.

[0172] A cell cover 150 (see Figure 18) may be provided to support the battery cell 10 so that it is directly housed in the pack case 310. However, the cell cover 150 is optional, and it is also possible for the battery cell 10 to be directly housed in the pack case 310 without the cell cover 150. A specific explanation of the cell cover 150 is provided in the explanation given above.

[0173] Referring to Figure 29, a cell vent portion 136 is formed on the battery cell 10 itself, and the cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 can communicate with the pack vent portion 316 of the pack case 310. A detailed explanation of the cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 is provided in the previous explanation.

[0174] As shown in Figure 30, if the cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 ruptures due to flame or gas, the cell vent portion 136 may be configured to communicate with the pack vent portion 316. The pack vent portion 316 may be formed as an opening. That is, referring to Figure 30, if the cell vent portion 136 of the battery cell 10 ruptures, the cell vent portion 136 communicates with the pack vent portion 316 of the pack case 310, thereby allowing the flame or gas generated from the battery cell 10 to be discharged to the outside of the pack case 310 through the cell vent portion 136 and the pack vent portion 316. In other words, this enables directional venting, in which the flame or gas generated by ignition in the battery cell 10 is discharged in a predetermined direction. This directional venting of the flame or gas prevents a chain reaction of thermal runaway and improves the safety of the battery cell 10.

[0175] Figure 31 is a diagram illustrating an automobile including a battery pack according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[0176] Referring to Figure 31, an automobile 40 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery packs 30 according to the embodiments described above. The automobile 40 may also include one or more battery cells 10 or battery modules 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0177] The aforementioned automobile 40 includes, for example, various types of automobiles that use electricity, such as electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles.

[0178] In this specification, terms indicating direction such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used. However, such terms indicate relative positions and are used only for the convenience of explanation. It is obvious to those skilled in the art that these positions can change depending on the position of the object in question, the observer's position, etc.

[0179] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and of course, various modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the claims below by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be considered from an explanatory rather than restrictive viewpoint. That is, the true technical concept of the present invention is shown in the claims, and all differences within the equivalent scope thereto should be interpreted as being included in the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0180] The present invention relates to a battery pack and an automobile including the same, and is particularly applicable to the secondary battery industry. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0181] 10 battery cells 20 Battery Modules 30 Battery Packs 40 Automobiles 110 Electrode assembly 120 electrode leads 130 Cell Case 131 Sealing section 132 Non-sealed parts 132a Non-sealed section 132b Non-sealed section 136 Cell vent section 137 Through hole 138 Thin film 140 Notch section 141 Center line 142 First End Line 143 First Direction Line 144 Second Direction Line 145 Second end line 146 Third Direction Line 147 Fourth Direction Line 150 Cell Cover 151 Cover Section 1 152 Second Cover Section 153 Third Cover Section 154 Open area 160 Tapes 170 Terrace section 210 Module Case 211 Lower case 212 Side Case 213 Upper case 216 Module Vent Section 217 Side vent prevention member 218 Upper vent prevention member 220 Thermal Resin 310 Pack Case 311 Lower frame 312 Side frame 312a Long side frame 312b Short side frame 313 Inner frame 314 Bulkhead frame 315 Upper frame 316 Pack Vent Section 317 Directional Vent Channel 318 Main Unit 319 Lower plate 320 Cooling channel 326 Module Vent Section 330 Partition Member

Claims

1. Multiple battery cells, The pack case includes a pack case in which the plurality of battery cells are housed and a pack vent section is formed through which flames or gases are vented, A battery pack characterized in that a cell vent portion is formed in the battery cell itself, and the cell vent portion of the battery cell communicates with the pack vent portion of the pack case.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the pack vent portion is formed at the lower part of the pack case.

3. The battery pack according to claim 2, characterized in that the pack case has a directional vent channel that communicates with the pack vent section and provides a path for discharging the flame or gas to the outside of the pack case.

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, characterized in that the directional vent channel is formed below the pack vent portion.

5. The aforementioned pack case includes a lower frame, The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower frame has a cooling channel formed therein for cooling not only the battery cells but also the flame or gas discharged from the pack vent.

6. The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooling channel is formed inside the lower frame.

7. The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooling channel is formed in a direction intersecting the direction in which the plurality of battery cells are arranged.

8. The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooling channel is formed on at least one of the two sides of the pack vent portion.

9. The lower frame includes a main body and a lower plate connected to the main body. This includes at least one partition member for defining the cooling channel, The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that the cooling channel is formed between the partition member and the lower plate.

10. Includes a plurality of battery modules, each containing a plurality of battery cells, A module vent is formed in the aforementioned battery module. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the cell vent portion of the battery cell, the module vent portion of the battery module, and the pack vent portion of the pack case are all in communication with each other.

11. The battery module includes a module case in which the plurality of battery cells are housed and in which the module vent section is formed through which the flame or gas is vented. The battery pack according to claim 10, characterized in that when the cell vent portion of the battery cell ruptures, the cell vent portion, the module vent portion of the module case, and the pack vent portion of the pack case communicate with each other.

12. The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that the module vent portion is formed at the lower part of the module case.

13. The lower part of the module case contains areas where thermal resin is applied and areas where it is not applied. The battery pack according to claim 12, characterized in that the module vent portion is formed in an area of ​​the thermal resin that is not coated.

14. The module case includes a lower case and a side case, The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the side cases is formed by folding from the lower case.

15. The battery pack according to claim 14, characterized in that the module case includes a U-shaped case.

16. The aforementioned module case includes the upper case, The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that an upper vent prevention member is provided below the upper case to prevent the flame or gas from being vented upward.

17. The battery pack according to claim 16, characterized in that the upper vent prevention member is a compression pad disposed between the upper case and the battery cell.

18. The battery pack according to claim 17, characterized in that the upper vent prevention member is made of silicone.

19. The battery pack according to claim 16, characterized in that the upper vent prevention member is a thermal resin applied to the battery cell.

20. The module case includes a side case, The battery pack according to claim 11, characterized in that a side vent prevention member is arranged inside the side case to prevent the flame or gas from being vented to the side.

21. The battery pack according to claim 20, characterized in that the side vent prevention member is arranged on the terrace portion of the plurality of battery cells.

22. The battery pack according to claim 21, characterized in that the side vent prevention member is made of silicone.

23. The aforementioned battery cell is a pouch-type battery cell, The aforementioned pouch-type battery cell is An electrode assembly comprising a first electrode plate having a first polarity, a second electrode plate having a second polarity, and a separation membrane interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, An electrode lead connected to the electrode assembly, The cell case includes the electrode assembly, supports the electrode leads, and has a sealing portion and an unsealing portion formed therein. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the cell vent portion is formed in the non-sealed portion of the cell case.

24. The cell vent section is, The through hole formed in the non-sealed portion of the cell case, The battery pack according to claim 23, further comprising a thin film bonded to the non-sealed portion so as to block the through-hole.

25. The battery pack according to claim 24, characterized in that the thin film of the cell vent portion is formed to be thinner than the thickness of the non-sealed portion of the cell case.

26. The battery pack according to claim 24, characterized in that the thin film of the cell vent portion is formed from a material with a lower melting point than the non-sealed portion of the cell case.

27. The battery pack according to claim 24, characterized in that the thin film is formed from a metallic material.

28. The battery pack according to claim 27, characterized in that the thin film is bonded to the non-sealing portion by welding or bonding.

29. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the cell vent portion has a line-shaped groove or notch formed therein.

30. The groove or notch portion is The central line formed in the center, A first end line extending from one end of the aforementioned center line, The battery pack according to claim 29, characterized in that it includes a second end line extending from the other end of the center line.

31. The battery pack according to claim 23, characterized in that the cell vent portion ruptures before the sealing portion due to the flame or gas.

32. Multiple non-sealed portions are provided. The battery pack according to claim 23, characterized in that the cell vent portion is formed in the smallest area of ​​the multiple non-sealed portions.

33. The battery pack according to claim 23, further comprising a cell cover that surrounds and supports the cell case in order to reinforce the rigidity of the cell case.

34. The battery pack according to claim 33, characterized in that an opening is formed in the lower part of the cell cover, and the cell vent is arranged to face downward in correspondence with the opening.

35. The cell cover is A first cover portion that covers one side of the cell case, A second cover portion that covers the other side of the cell case, It includes a third cover portion that connects the first cover portion and the second cover portion and covers the upper part of the cell case, The battery pack according to claim 34, characterized in that the opening is formed on the opposite side of the third cover portion.

36. The battery pack according to claim 33, characterized in that the cell cover is configured to support the upright position of the cell case.

37. An automobile comprising at least one battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 36.

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