Battery packs and automobiles containing them

Abstract

The battery pack according to the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules, a pack case having an internal space for housing the plurality of battery modules and a wall portion surrounding the battery modules, and at least one fire-resistant partition wall that partitions the internal space, is positioned between the battery modules, and is detachably attached to the wall portion, wherein the fire-resistant partition wall may include an air layer and a fire-resistant pad layer made of a fire-resistant material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack, and more particularly, to a battery pack capable of suppressing or delaying a thermal runaway phenomenon between battery modules during a fire in the battery pack.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0070560 filed on May 30, 2024, and all the contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated into this application.

Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries with high applicability according to product groups and having electrical characteristics such as high energy density are widely applied not only to portable devices but also to electric vehicles (EVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), etc. driven by an electric drive source. Such secondary batteries not only have the primary advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels but also attract attention as a new energy source for environmental friendliness and improving energy efficiency in that no by-products are generated during energy use.

[0004] Currently, widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, nickel zinc batteries, etc. When a high output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in series to form a battery module or a battery pack. Also, in order to increase the charge / discharge capacity, a plurality of battery cells can be connected in parallel to form a battery module or a battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in a battery module or a battery pack can be variously set according to the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] Typically, a rechargeable battery has an operating voltage of approximately 2.5V to 4.5V. For example, in the case of an electric vehicle, multiple rechargeable batteries are connected in series and / or parallel to form a battery module, and multiple such battery modules are connected in series and / or parallel to form a battery pack, which is then used as the energy source.

[0006] On the other hand, recent battery packs have multiple battery modules densely housed in a limited internal space within the pack case, resulting in very low energy density. It has been pointed out that such battery packs have poor fire safety because if a fire occurs in any one of the battery modules, the heat is easily transmitted and can cause a chain reaction to occur in adjacent battery modules.

[0007] Therefore, in our industry, a crucial challenge in battery pack design is to incorporate measures that can delay or suppress the propagation of thermal energy between battery modules within the battery pack, in order to prepare for battery module fire issues. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The present invention was conceived against the aforementioned background, and aims to provide a battery pack that can suppress or delay the propagation of thermal energy to other adjacent battery modules in the event of a fire in one battery module.

[0009] Furthermore, the present invention also aims to enable more efficient use of the internal space of the battery pack by applying a fire-resistant partition that can be attached to and detached from the inside of the pack case, thereby allowing the battery module and the fire-resistant partition to be variably arranged as needed.

[0010] 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 description of the invention below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to the present invention, a battery pack may be provided that includes a plurality of battery modules, a pack case having an internal space for housing the plurality of battery modules and a wall portion surrounding the battery modules, and at least one fire-resistant partition wall that partitions the internal space, is positioned between the battery modules, and is detachably attached to the wall portion, wherein the fire-resistant partition wall includes an air layer and a fire-resistant pad layer made of a fire-resistant material.

[0012] The fire-resistant pad layer may contain at least one of aerogel, mica, or silicone.

[0013] The fireproof partition may include a rigid frame portion provided to support the outer edge of the fireproof pad layer, and a fireproof sheet attached to the rigid frame portion, spaced apart from the fireproof pad layer so as to form the air layer.

[0014] The fire-resistant partition may have multiple fire-resistant pad layers and multiple air layers spaced apart from each other.

[0015] The wall portion may include a partition mounting portion provided so that the fire-resistant partition is slidably connected along the vertical direction.

[0016] The partition wall mounting portion may include a pair of guide blocks that protrude from the side surface of the wall body, extend in the vertical direction, and are spaced apart from each other by an interval corresponding to the thickness of the fire-resistant partition wall.

[0017] The pair of guide blocks are provided with at least one bolted hole, and the fireproof partition may have through holes that coincide with the bolted hole when inserted between the pair of guide blocks.

[0018] The partition mounting portion is formed recessed to a predetermined depth in the side surface of the wall portion and includes an insertion guide groove extending in the vertical direction, and the fire-resistant partition may include an insertion projection provided at least at one end of the fire-resistant partition and positioned to be sandwiched in the insertion guide groove along the vertical direction.

[0019] The pack case may include a pack tray having an open top, comprising the wall portion and a bottom plate on which the plurality of battery modules are mounted; and a pack cover that covers the open top of the pack tray.

[0020] The wall portion may include an outer wall body arranged along the outer edge of the bottom plate, and a first cross beam extending across the bottom plate and connected to the outer wall body. The fire-resistant partition wall may be connected at one end to the first cross beam and at the other end to the outer wall body.

[0021] The pack case further includes a second cross beam that separates adjacent battery modules in the lateral direction, and the fire-resistant partition may be positioned between the battery modules and the second cross beam.

[0022] The system may further include a module upper end cover partition that is detachably attached to the wall so as to cover the upper end of at least one of the battery modules.

[0023] The wall portion is provided with a partition wall mounting groove formed in a recess on the surface of its upper end, and the module upper end cover partition wall may be provided with mounting protrusions at its edges that are shaped to fit into the partition wall mounting groove.

[0024] In another embodiment of the present invention, an automobile including the aforementioned battery pack may be provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0025] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery pack capable of suppressing or delaying the propagation of thermal energy to other adjacent battery modules in case of a fire in a battery module.

[0026] Moreover, according to the present invention, by applying a fireproof partition that can be attached and detached inside the pack case, the battery module and the fireproof partition can be variably arranged as needed, and the internal space of the battery pack can be used more efficiently.

[0027] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-described effects, and other effects of the present invention not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains from the present specification and the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] It is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a partially exploded perspective view of the battery pack of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a perspective view of the pack tray of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view of a fireproof partition according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is an exploded perspective view of the fireproof partition of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view of the fireproof partition of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view of a fireproof partition according to a modified embodiment of the fireproof partition of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] It is an exploded perspective view of a fireproof partition according to a modified embodiment of the fireproof partition of FIG. 4. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing the process of attaching a fireproof partition to a pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing the process of attaching a fireproof partition to a pack case according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11]This figure shows a battery pack with a different arrangement of fire-resistant bulkheads depending on the size of the battery module, compared to the implementation configuration in Figure 2. [Figure 12] This figure shows a fireproof partition and a partition mounting portion of a pack case according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 12 shows how the fireproof partition is attached to the pack case. [Figure 14] This figure shows a fireproof partition and a partition mounting portion of a pack case according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, this figure shows a portion of the battery pack including the module upper end cover partition. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a plan view showing a portion of the pack tray to which the module's upper end cover bulkhead is attached. [Figure 17] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, this figure shows a portion of a pack tray to which a module upper end cover partition is attached. [Figure 18] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, this figure shows a major portion of a battery pack including a second crossbeam and a fireproof bulkhead. [Figure 19] This diagram schematically shows an automobile including a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] 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.

[0030] Furthermore, in describing the present invention, if it is determined that a specific description of a related known configuration or function would obscure the gist of the present invention, such description will be omitted.

[0031] Since embodiments of the present invention are provided to give a more complete explanation to an ordinary person of the art, the shapes and sizes of components in the drawings may be exaggerated or omitted, or illustrated schematically, for the sake of clearer explanation. Accordingly, the sizes and proportions of each component do not fully reflect their actual sizes and proportions.

[0032] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a partially exploded perspective view of the battery pack of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pack tray of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a fireproof partition according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Referring to these drawings, a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of battery modules 100, a pack case 200 that houses the plurality of battery modules 100, and fire-resistant partitions 300 that divide the internal space of the pack case 200 and are arranged between the battery modules 100.

[0034] The battery module 100 may include a plurality of battery cells and a module case that houses the battery cells. Here, the battery cells mean secondary batteries including electrode assemblies, electrolytes, and battery cases, and may be any form of secondary battery, such as pouch-type, cylindrical, or rectangular secondary batteries. The module case has an internal space for housing the battery cells and may be made of a metallic material such as steel or a highly rigid non-metallic material to protect the battery cells from external impacts.

[0035] The battery module 100 may be configured to have one or more vent holes (not shown) on at least one side of the module case, so that when a battery cell ignites, gas and other substances are discharged to the outside of the module case through the vent holes, thereby preventing a sudden rise in internal pressure.

[0036] The pack case 200 may be configured to include a wall portion 212 that surrounds the battery module 100 and forms an internal space, and to house the plurality of battery modules 100 in the internal space. For example, the pack case 200 may be configured to include a pack tray 210 and a pack cover 220, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0037] The pack tray 210 may be provided in a box shape with an open top and a partitioned space inside. The battery modules 100 may be placed one by one in each of the partitioned spaces. The pack cover 220 may be provided to cover the open top of the pack tray 210 and to be connectable to the pack tray 210.

[0038] Specifically, referring to Figure 3, the pack tray 210 may include a bottom plate 211 on which the plurality of battery modules 100 are mounted, and a wall portion 212 fixedly connected to the bottom plate 211 so as to form an internal space in the pack tray 210.

[0039] The wall portion 212 may include an outer wall portion 212a arranged along the outer edge of the bottom plate 211. The wall portion 212 may also include a first cross beam 212b that extends across the bottom plate 211 and is connected to the outer wall portion 212a. For example, the first cross beam 212b may be configured to pass through the center of the bottom plate, extend laterally (in the X direction), and have both ends connected to the outer wall portion 212a, thereby dividing the internal space of the pack tray 210. Such a pack tray 210 has an internal space enclosed by the bottom plate 211, the outer wall portion 212a, and the first cross beam 212b.

[0040] The battery modules 100 can be divided into two groups and arranged on the left side (-Y direction) and right side (+Y direction) of the first crossbeam 212b. For convenience of explanation, the battery modules 100 arranged on the left side of the first crossbeam 212b will be referred to as the first battery module group, and the battery modules 100 arranged on the right side of the first crossbeam 212b will be referred to as the second battery module group.

[0041] The first crossbeam 212b can support the outer wall 212a and increase the structural rigidity of the pack tray 210. This can suppress deformation such as distortion of the pack tray 210 even in the event of an external impact. Furthermore, by separating the first battery module group from the second battery module group, the first crossbeam 212b can block or delay the propagation of heat to the other battery module group in the event of a fire in one of the battery module groups.

[0042] The pack tray 210 may further include a gas outlet 201. One or more gas outlets 201 may be provided on at least one wall of the outer wall body 212a.

[0043] A metal mesh may be attached to the gas outlet 201. The gas generated when the battery module 100 ignites can pass through the metal mesh and be discharged to the outside of the pack case 200, but flames and sparks can be prevented from flowing out by the metal mesh. Although not shown, a valve unit that opens and closes due to the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the pack case 200 may be attached to the gas outlet 201.

[0044] For example, two gas outlets 201 may be provided in front of (+X direction) and two in the rear (-X direction) of the outer wall 212a. One of the two gas outlets provided in front of the outer wall 212a may be provided on the left side (-Y direction) of the first cross beam 212b, and the other may be provided on the right side (+Y direction) of the first cross beam 212b. Two gas outlets 201 provided at the rear of the outer wall 212a may also be provided one on the left side and one on the right side of the first cross beam 212b. The gas outlet located on the left side of the first cross beam 212b may be used to discharge gas generated when the first battery module group 100 ignites to the outside of the pack case 200, and the gas outlet 201 located on the right side of the first cross beam 212b may be used to discharge gas generated when the second battery module group 100 ignites to the outside of the pack case 200.

[0045] The pack cover 220 may be provided in the form of a plate-like body or cover that can be bolted to the upper end of the outer wall 212a of the pack tray 210 and cover the open upper part of the pack tray 210. Although not shown, a sealing gasket may be placed at the upper end of the outer wall 212a, and the edge of the pack cover 220 may be placed on the sealing gasket to increase the airtightness of the pack case 200.

[0046] On the other hand, a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a fire-resistant partition 300 that is detachably attached to the wall portion 212 of the pack tray 210. The fire-resistant partition 300 may be placed between the battery modules 100 so as to partition the battery modules 100.

[0047] The fire-resistant partition 300 is made of a fire-resistant material and serves to block or delay the propagation of thermal energy to adjacent battery modules 100 in the event of a fire in the battery pack 10.

[0048] A fire-resistant partition 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an air layer 301 and a fire-resistant pad layer 310 made of a fire-resistant material inside.

[0049] More specifically, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, the fireproof partition wall 300 may include a rigid frame portion 320 made of a rigid material and provided to support the outer edge of the fireproof pad layer 310, and a fireproof sheet 330 which is separated from the fireproof pad layer 310 so as to form the air layer 301 and is attached to the rigid frame portion 320.

[0050] The fire-resistant pad layer 310 may be composed of at least one of, for example, aerogel, mica, or silicone. The rigid frame portion 320 may include at least one of, for example, steel, reinforced ceramic, or titanium as a rigid material.

[0051] The fire-resistant sheet 330 may be made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with an added fire retardant, or a silicone-coated material such as Siltex, which has excellent fire-resistant properties.

[0052] The rigid frame portion 320 is in the shape of a roughly square ring and may have a slot 322 into which the fire-resistant pad layer 310 is inserted, as shown in Figure 5. The fire-resistant pad layer 310 sandwiched in the slot 322 may have its outer edge supported by the rigid frame portion 320.

[0053] The fire-resistant sheet 330 can be attached to the rigid frame portion 320 to which the fire-resistant pad layer 310 is bonded. The fire-resistant sheet 330 has an area sufficient to integrally cover the fire-resistant pad layer 310 and the rigid frame portion 320, and can be bonded to the rigid frame portion 320 by methods such as adhesive bonding, bolting, or riveting.

[0054] Such a fire-resistant partition wall 300 may include an air layer 301 and a fire-resistant pad layer 310 inside, as shown in Figure 6. That is, the fire-resistant partition wall 300 according to this embodiment has a structure in which the fire-resistant sheet 330, the air layer 301 and the fire-resistant pad layer 310 are combined, thereby further enhancing the heat insulation performance and fire resistance performance. In addition, the shape of the fire-resistant partition wall 300 is maintained constant without deformation by a rigid frame portion 320 made of a rigid material.

[0055] As a modified embodiment of the fire-resistant partition wall 300 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fire-resistant partition wall 300 according to the modified embodiment may be configured to include a plurality of fire-resistant pad layers 310A, 310B and a plurality of air layers 301 that are spaced apart from each other.

[0056] For example, as shown in Figure 7, the rigid frame portion 320 may have two slots 322a and 322b into which two fire-resistant pad layers 310A and 310B can be inserted. The two fire-resistant pad layers 310 may be configured to be inserted into the rigid frame portion 320, each sandwiched between the corresponding slots 322a and 322b, maintaining a predetermined distance from each other.

[0057] In this case, as shown in Figure 8, the fireproof partition wall 300 according to the modified embodiment has three air layers 301 and two fireproof pad layers 310A and 310B. Increasing the number of air layers 301 and fireproof pad layers 310 in this way further improves the heat insulation effect.

[0058] The fire-resistant partition wall 300 may be provided with a length corresponding to the separation distance between the first cross beam 212b and the outer wall body 212a, and a height that is the same as or lower than the outer wall body 212a. Here, the outer wall body 212a refers to the outer wall body 212a arranged parallel to the first cross beam 212b.

[0059] As shown in Figure 9, the fire-resistant partition 300 can be slidably coupled to the pack tray 210 in the vertical direction. In particular, the wall portion 212 provided in the pack case 200 according to the present invention may include a partition mounting portion 213 as a means for accurately and easily installing the fire-resistant partition 300 in a designated position and providing structural stability.

[0060] The partition wall mounting portion 213 according to this embodiment may include a pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b that protrude from the side surface of the wall portion 212, extend in the vertical direction, and are spaced apart from each other by an interval corresponding to the thickness of the fire-resistant partition wall 300. The pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b may be configured to be detachably attached to the wall portion 212. For example, the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b may be configured to be connected to and disconnected from the wall portion 212 by bolting or snap-fitting.

[0061] The pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b (see Figure 3) can be provided on one surface of the first cross beam 212b, on the outer wall body 212a facing the one surface of the first cross beam 212b, on the other surface of the first cross beam 212b, and on the outer wall body 212a facing the other surface of the first cross beam 212b. In this embodiment, the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b are provided at regular intervals, but a different configuration is possible. For example, the distance between the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b can be determined by the width of the battery module 100 housed in the pack tray 210. That is, the distance between the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b can be narrower or wider than the distance shown in Figure 3 (distance in the X direction).

[0062] Next, the process and structure for attaching the fire-resistant partition wall 300 to the pack tray 210 will be briefly described.

[0063] The fire-resistant partition wall 300 can be inserted into a pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b provided on the wall portion 212, as shown in Figure 9. In this case, one end of the fire-resistant partition wall 300 can be inserted between a pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b provided on the first cross beam 212b, and the other end of the fire-resistant partition wall 300 can be inserted between a pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b provided on the outer wall portion 212a. In this case, one end of the fire-resistant partition wall 300 can be connected to the first cross beam 212b, and the other end can be connected to the outer wall portion 212a.

[0064] The pair of guide blocks 213a, 213b may be provided with at least one bolt fastening hole 213c. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the pair of guide blocks 213a, 213b may be provided with a bolt fastening hole 213c that is provided at a predetermined height and penetrates in a direction intersecting the fireproof partition wall 300. The fireproof partition wall 300 may be provided with a through hole 321 that is inserted between the pair of guide blocks 213a, 213b and coincides with the bolt fastening hole 213c when mounted on the bottom plate 211 of the pack tray 210. The bolt fastening hole 213c and the through hole 321 may be configured so that a fastening member B, such as a bolt or rivet, is inserted and fastened.

[0065] In this configuration, the fireproof partition wall 300 can be inserted vertically between the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b and then fixed to the pack tray 210 by the fastening member B. On the other hand, unlike this embodiment, the fastening member B may not be applied depending on the circumstances.

[0066] When multiple fireproof partitions 300 are connected to a pack tray 210 in this manner, partitioned spaces can be provided inside the pack tray 210 to house each battery module 100. As a result, each of the multiple battery modules 100 can be placed one by one in the partitioned spaces, and each battery module 100 can be configured to be completely enclosed on the front, back, left, and right by the wall portion 212 and the fireproof partition 300. As a result, in the event of ignition of any of the battery modules 100, the thermal energy can be blocked or delayed by the wall portion 212 and the fireproof partition 300.

[0067] As described above, the fire-resistant partition 300 is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the pack tray 210. Therefore, the fire-resistant partition 300 can be added to or omitted from the pack tray 210 as needed.

[0068] For example, not only battery modules 100 of the same size, but also battery modules 100 of different sizes can be stored in the space partitioned by the fire-resistant partitions 300. Specifically, as shown in Figure 11, some of the fire-resistant partitions 300 can be removed from the pack tray 210 and a larger battery module 100A can be placed to the right of the first crossbeam 212b. Furthermore, by narrowing the spacing between the partition mounting sections 213 and increasing their number, the battery pack 10 can be configured to attach more fire-resistant partitions 300 to the pack tray 210. In this case, a wider variety of battery modules 100 and other electrical components can be stored in the partitioned space.

[0069] Furthermore, if the fire-resistant partition 300 is damaged or develops durability issues, it can be replaced or easily repaired.

[0070] Figure 12 shows a fire-resistant partition wall 300A and a partition wall mounting portion 213 of a pack case 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 13 shows the fire-resistant partition wall 300 of Figure 12 attached to the pack case 200.

[0071] The same reference numerals for the same components as in the aforementioned drawings indicate the same components, and redundant explanations for the same components will be omitted. The explanation will focus on the differences from the previously described embodiments.

[0072] The partition mounting portion 213 according to another embodiment of the present invention may include an insertion guide groove 213d formed recessed to a predetermined depth in the side surface of the wall portion 212 and extending in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 12. The fire-resistant partition 300A according to another embodiment of the present invention may include an insertion projection 323 provided at at least one end of the fire-resistant partition 300A and provided so as to be sandwiched in the insertion guide groove 213d along the vertical direction. The insertion projection 323 may be provided, for example, as a removable cover type on one side of the rigid frame portion 320.

[0073] According to the embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 13, compared to the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 10, the degree of freedom of the internal space of the pack case 200 and the ease of attaching the fire-resistant partition wall 300A can be increased. For example, in the above-described embodiment, since the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b are provided in a form that protrudes from the side surface of the wall portion 212, the guide blocks 213a and 213b and the battery module 100 may interfere with each other when arranging the battery module 100. In addition, it is necessary to process the fire-resistant partition wall 300 and the guide blocks 213a and 213b for bolt fastening, which increases the number of installation steps. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, the attachment of the pack tray 210 and the fire-resistant partition wall 300A is completed by sandwiching the portion of the insertion projection 323 of the fire-resistant partition wall 300A into the insertion guide groove 213d of the wall portion 212. Therefore, the attachment of the fire-resistant partition wall 300A is very easy. Furthermore, unlike the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b in the embodiment described above, there are no parts that protrude from the wall portion 212, making it easier to position the battery module 100 in close contact with the fire-resistant partition wall 300A.

[0074] Although not shown in the figures, the wall portion 212 is provided with a plurality of insertion guide grooves 213d, and the plurality of insertion guide grooves 213d may be provided along the longitudinal direction (X direction) of the wall portion 212. Here, the spacing between the insertion guide grooves 213d can be configured in various ways. For example, the number of insertion guide grooves 213d can be increased and the spacing between the insertion guide grooves 213d can be narrowed compared to this embodiment. The fire-resistant partition wall 300A can be inserted into any of the plurality of insertion guide grooves 213d as needed. In this case, the mounting position of the fire-resistant partition wall 300A can be variably adjusted according to the size of the battery module 100 mounted on the pack tray 210.

[0075] As a modified embodiment of the configurations shown in Figures 12 and 13, the partition mounting portion 213 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention includes an insertion guide projection 213e that is formed to project from the side surface of the wall portion 212 and extends in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure 14, and the fire-resistant partition 300B may include an insertion groove 325 provided at at least one end of the fire-resistant partition 300B, into which the insertion guide projection 213e is fitted along the vertical direction.

[0076] The insertion guide projection 213e of the wall portion 212 is fitted into the insertion groove 325 of the fire-resistant partition wall 300B, thereby completing the installation of the pack tray 210 and the fire-resistant partition wall 300B. Therefore, as with the previously described embodiment, the installation of the fire-resistant partition wall 300B is very easy. Since there are no parts protruding from the wall portion 212, as with the pair of guide blocks 213a and 213b in the previously described embodiment, the placement of the battery module 100 becomes easier.

[0077] Figure 15 is a diagram showing a portion of the battery pack 10 including the module upper end cover partition 400 in yet another embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 16 is a plan view showing a portion of the pack tray 210 to which the module upper end cover partition 400 of Figure 15 is attached.

[0078] The same part numbers as in the aforementioned drawings refer to the same parts, and redundant explanations for the same parts will be omitted. The explanation will focus on the differences from the previously described embodiments.

[0079] A battery pack 10 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention may further include a module upper end cover partition 400 that is detachably attached to the wall portion 212 so as to cover the upper end of at least one of the battery modules 100.

[0080] For example, a battery pack 10 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention may be configured such that the front, rear, left, and right sides of the battery module 100 are covered by the wall portion 212 and fire-resistant partition wall 300A according to the above-described embodiment, and the upper part of the battery module 100 is covered by the module upper end cover partition wall 400. Here, the module upper end cover partition wall 400 may be provided to have substantially the same configuration as, for example, the fire-resistant partition wall 300.

[0081] Referring to Figure 15, the wall portion 212 of the pack tray 210 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is provided with a partition mounting groove 214 recessed on the surface of its upper end, and the module upper end cover partition wall 400 may be provided with mounting protrusions 410 at its edge that are shaped to match the partition mounting groove 214.

[0082] With this configuration, as shown in Figure 16, the module upper end cover partition 400 is mounted on the upper end of the wall portion 212 of the pack tray 210, covering the top of the battery module 100. In this case, the top, front, rear, left, and right sides of the battery module 100 are all covered, making it possible to more effectively prevent heat and flames from being transferred to other adjacent battery modules 100 in the event of a fire in the battery module 100.

[0083] In other examples of the configurations shown in Figures 15 and 16, as shown in Figure 17, the wall portion 212 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention may include a bolt fastening portion 215 with a screw hole 215a at its upper end. The module upper end cover partition 400A may include a projection 420 provided at its edge, which is connected to the bolt fastening portion 215 by a bolt B2. For example, the bolt fastening portion 215 may be recessed in the surface of the upper end of the wall portion 212, and the projection 420 of the module upper end cover partition 400A may be shaped to fit the bolt fastening portion 215 and have a bolt insertion hole that is vertically aligned with the screw hole 215a. According to such an configuration, the module upper end cover partition 400A is more stably fixed to the pack tray 210.

[0084] Figure 18 shows a major part of the battery pack 10, including a second crossbeam 212c and a fireproof bulkhead 300, in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] The same part numbers as in the aforementioned drawings refer to the same parts, and redundant explanations for the same parts will be omitted. The explanation will focus on the differences from the previously described embodiments.

[0086] A battery pack 10 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention may further include a second crossbeam 212c compared to the embodiment described above. That is, a pack tray 210 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention may include a bottom plate 211, an outer wall 212a, a first crossbeam 212b, and a second crossbeam 212c. Here, the second crossbeam 212c is arranged in a direction intersecting the first crossbeam 212b described above and is part of the pack tray 210 that partitions adjacent battery modules 100 in the lateral direction.

[0087] The second crossbeam 212c can be fixedly connected at both ends to the first crossbeam 212b and the outer wall 212a. Such a second crossbeam 212c, together with the first crossbeam 212b, supports the outer wall 212a, increasing the structural rigidity of the pack tray 210. It also plays a role in blocking or delaying heat transfer between adjacent battery modules 100.

[0088] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the fireproof partition 300A may be positioned between the battery module 100 and the second crossbeam 212c, as shown in Figure 18. In this case, the structural rigidity of the pack case 200 is further enhanced, and heat propagation between the battery modules 100 is more reliably blocked or delayed in the event of a fire.

[0089] The automobile according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 19.

[0090] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram showing an automobile including a battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] The automobile 1 according to the present invention may be configured to include the aforementioned battery pack 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 20, an inverter 30, and a motor 40. Preferably, the automobile 1 may be an electric vehicle.

[0092] The battery pack 10 can be used as an electrical energy source to drive the automobile 1 by providing driving force to the motor 40. The battery pack 10 can be charged or discharged by the inverter 30 by the drive of the motor 40 and / or an internal combustion engine (not shown). The battery pack 10 can be charged by a regenerative charging device coupled with the brakes. The battery pack 10 can be electrically connected to the motor 40 of the automobile 1 via the inverter 30.

[0093] The ECU 20 is an electronic control unit that controls the state of the vehicle 1. For example, it determines torque information based on information such as accelerator, brake, and speed, and controls the output of the motor 40 according to the torque information. The ECU 20 also sends a control signal to the inverter 30 to charge or discharge the battery pack 10 based on state information such as SOC and SOH transmitted by the BMS. The inverter 30 causes the battery pack 10 to charge or discharge based on the control signal from the ECU 20. The motor 40 drives the vehicle 1 using the electrical energy of the battery pack 10 based on control information (e.g., torque information) transmitted from the ECU 20.

[0094] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that a wide range of modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the following claims by persons with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains.

[0095] In this specification, terms indicating direction such as up, down, left, and right are used, but these terms are for the sake of convenience of explanation only, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that these directions can change depending on the position of the object in question, the observer's position, etc.

Claims

1. Multiple battery modules, A pack case comprising an internal space for housing the plurality of battery modules and a wall portion surrounding the battery modules, It includes at least one fireproof partition wall that divides the internal space, is positioned between the battery modules, and is detachably attached to the wall, The aforementioned fireproof partition is characterized by containing an air layer and a fireproof pad layer made of a fireproof material inside, in a battery pack.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the fire-resistant pad layer comprises at least one of aerogel, mica, and silicone.

3. The aforementioned fire-resistant partition wall is A rigid frame portion, which is made of a rigid material and is provided to support the outer edge of the fire-resistant pad layer, The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a fire-resistant sheet attached to the rigid frame portion, spaced apart from the fire-resistant pad layer so as to form the air layer.

4. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the fireproof partition wall comprises a plurality of fireproof pad layers spaced apart from each other, as well as a plurality of air layers.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the wall portion includes a partition mounting portion provided so that the fire-resistant partition is slidably connected along the vertical direction.

6. The aforementioned partition wall mounting portion is, The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes a pair of guide blocks that protrude from the side surface of the wall portion, extend in the vertical direction, and are spaced apart from each other by an interval corresponding to the thickness of the fire-resistant partition wall.

7. The battery pack according to claim 6, characterized in that the pair of guide blocks are provided with at least one bolt fastening hole, and the fireproof bulkhead is provided with a through hole that coincides with the bolt fastening hole when inserted between the pair of guide blocks.

8. The aforementioned partition wall mounting portion is, The side surface of the wall portion includes an insertion guide groove formed as a recess to a predetermined depth and extending in the vertical direction, The aforementioned fire-resistant partition wall is The battery pack according to claim 5, characterized in that it includes an insertion projection provided at at least one end of the fireproof bulkhead and positioned to be sandwiched vertically in the insertion guide groove.

9. The aforementioned pack case is The pack tray comprises the aforementioned wall portion and a bottom plate on which the plurality of battery modules are mounted, and has an open top. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a pack cover that covers the open top of the pack tray.

10. The aforementioned wall portion is An outer wall body arranged along the outer edge of the bottom plate, The battery pack according to claim 9, further comprising a first cross beam extending across the bottom plate and connected to the outer wall body.

11. The battery pack according to claim 10, characterized in that one end of the fire-resistant partition is connected to the first cross beam and the other end is connected to the outer wall body.

12. The pack case further includes a second cross beam that separates adjacent battery modules in the lateral direction, The battery pack according to claim 1, characterized in that the fireproof partition is positioned between the battery module and the second crossbeam.

13. The battery pack according to claim 1, further comprising a module upper end cover partition wall that is detachably attached to the wall so as to cover the upper end of at least one of the battery modules.

14. The aforementioned wall portion is provided with a partition wall mounting groove formed in a recess on the surface of its upper end, The battery pack according to claim 13, characterized in that the module upper end cover partition wall has mounting protrusions at its edges that are shaped to fit into the partition wall mounting groove.

15. An automobile characterized by including a battery pack according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

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