Battery modules and battery packs

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery module with improved cycle performance. A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cell assembly comprising a plurality of battery cells, each provided with electrode terminals and stacked in at least one direction; a module case housing the cell assembly in an internal space; a cooling member located on at least one side of the cell assembly and dissipating heat through a coolant; and a heat dissipation member positioned opposite at least one battery cell, configured to transfer heat from the battery cell to the cooling member and partially protrude from the cooling member side.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0172604 filed on December 1, 2023, and all contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of the said application are incorporated into this application.

[0002] The present invention relates to battery technology, and more specifically, to a battery module with improved cycle performance, a battery pack including the battery module, an electric vehicle, and the like.

Background Art

[0003] With the significant growth in demand for portable electronic products such as smartphones, tablet personal computers, and smartwatches, and the widespread popularization of electric vehicles, active research is being conducted on batteries mounted therein, particularly on rechargeable secondary batteries.

[0004] Currently commercialized secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Among these, lithium secondary batteries are in the spotlight because they hardly exhibit the memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, allowing free charging and discharging, have an extremely low self-discharge rate, and high energy density.

[0005] Lithium secondary batteries mainly use lithium-based oxides and carbon materials as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively. A lithium secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate coated with the positive electrode active material and a negative electrode plate coated with the negative electrode active material are disposed with a separator interposed therebetween, and an exterior material, for example a battery case, that hermetically accommodates the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte.

[0006] Generally, lithium-ion batteries can be classified into two types based on the shape of their casing: can-type batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a metal can, and pouch-type batteries, in which the electrode assembly is housed in a pouch made of aluminum laminate sheet. Furthermore, can-type batteries can be classified into cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries based on their shape. Currently, it can be said that there are three main types of rechargeable batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries: pouch-type, prismatic, and cylindrical.

[0007] Rechargeable batteries are widely used not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices, but also in medium- and large-scale devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) for propulsion and energy storage. Furthermore, in recent years, as the electric vehicle industry has grown significantly, interest in batteries, which can be considered a core technology, has increased even more.

[0008] Such secondary batteries are electrically connected to each other and housed together inside a module case to form a single battery module. Furthermore, one or more battery modules, along with various electronic components for controlling their charging and discharging operations, such as a Battery Management System (BMS) and fuses, are included to form a battery pack.

[0009] In the case of battery cells, heat generation is inevitable during the charge-discharge cycle. If the battery cells cannot be adequately cooled, the stable performance of the battery cells and the battery device (such as a battery module) containing them cannot be ensured. Furthermore, temperature differences can occur even within a single battery cell. Moreover, such temperature differences, as the cycles accumulate, can cause high-temperature concentration phenomena in specific areas.

[0010] In particular, such temperature variations can cause lithium plating on the internal electrodes of battery cells. This lithium plating leads to dendrite growth, which can damage the separator membrane. Damage to the separator membrane can lead to thermal runaway of the battery, potentially causing significant damage.

[0011] Furthermore, the recent trend towards fast charging is leading to a gradual increase in the use of higher C-rate batteries. In this situation, battery heat generation can accelerate, so there is an urgent need for technologies that can prevent high-temperature concentration and guide heat to a uniform distribution. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, and an automobile, which can effectively improve not only safety but also cycle performance through efficient thermal management for partial temperature differences.

[0013] 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 an ordinary person from the description of the invention described later. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] A battery module according to one aspect of the present invention for solving the above problems includes a cell assembly comprising a plurality of battery cells, each provided with electrode terminals and stacked in at least one direction; a module case housing the cell assembly in its internal space; a cooling member located on at least one side of the cell assembly and discharging heat through a coolant; and a heat dissipation member positioned opposite at least one battery cell, configured to transfer heat from the battery cell to the cooling member and partially protrude from the cooling member side.

[0015] Here, the heat dissipation member may include a main body located on the cooling member side, and a protruding portion that extends from at least one side of the main body and has a narrower width than the main body.

[0016] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member may be configured to partially protrude from the high-temperature side of the opposing battery cell.

[0017] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member may be configured to protrude from the portion where the electrode terminals of the opposing battery cell are located.

[0018] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member may be configured such that the width of the protruding portion changes at least partially.

[0019] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member may be configured to protrude from two or more parts.

[0020] Furthermore, the heat dissipation members may be configured to protrude from both ends of the battery cell in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] Furthermore, the heat dissipation component may be configured such that the heat dissipation performance of two or more protruding portions differs.

[0022] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member may include an outer projection and an inner projection arranged in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

[0023] Furthermore, multiple heat dissipation members may be provided and configured to be arranged along the stacking direction of the battery cells.

[0024] Further, at least some of the plurality of heat radiation members may be configured such that respective protruding forms thereof are different.

[0025] Further, in the heat radiation member, a notch may be formed at an end portion on a side where the cooling member is located.

[0026] Further, the heat radiation member may be configured such that separation distances from opposing battery cells are partially different.

[0027] Further, the heat radiation member may be configured in a form in which at least a part of a protruding portion is bent.

[0028] A battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem includes the battery module according to one aspect of the present invention.

[0029] A vehicle according to still another aspect of the present invention for solving the above problem includes the battery module according to one aspect of the present invention.

Effects of the Invention

[0030] According to one aspect of the present invention, the cycle performance of a battery device including battery cells, that is, a battery module or a battery pack, can be improved.

[0031] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, a partial temperature difference of battery cells can be effectively reduced, and temperature uniformity of battery cells can be ensured. Therefore, occurrence of lithium precipitation inside the battery cells can be suppressed, and thereby growth of dendrites can also be prevented.

[0032] Therefore, according to one aspect of the present invention, the performance of a battery cell or a battery device including the battery cell can be stably maintained over a long period of time.

[0033] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress problems such as thermal runaway caused by damage to the separation membrane due to dendrite growth or the like. Therefore, the safety of battery cells and battery devices can be ensured.

[0034] Therefore, in one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery device with an improved lifespan that can be used safely and stably for a long period of time.

[0035] Furthermore, the present invention can produce a variety of other effects, which will be described in each embodiment. However, effects that can be easily inferred by those skilled in the art will not be described.

[0036] The drawings accompanying this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention, are intended to facilitate a better understanding of the technical concept of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be construed as being limited solely to what is shown in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0037] [Figure 1] This is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view showing a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, with one heat dissipation member and one battery cell shown separately. [Figure 6] Figure 5 is a schematic side view showing the configuration in which the heat dissipation member and battery cell are stacked. [Figure 7] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to various embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 8] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to various embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 9] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to various embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 10] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] This diagram schematically shows the configurations of different heat dissipation members included in a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This figure schematically shows the configuration of different heat dissipation members included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] This figure schematically shows the configuration of different heat dissipation members included in a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] This diagram schematically shows a configuration in which a heat dissipation member according to one embodiment of the present invention is arranged opposite a single battery cell. [Figure 16] This is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the configuration of one battery cell and one heat dissipation member included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] This figure schematically shows the configuration of a heat dissipation member according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] This is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] This is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The terms and words used herein and in the claims shall not be interpreted in their general and dictionary sense, but in accordance with the principle that inventors may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe their invention, and shall be interpreted in the sense and concepts corresponding to the technical idea of ​​the present invention.

[0039] Therefore, the embodiments described herein and the configurations shown in the drawings represent only one of the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical concept of the invention. It should be understood that there are various equivalents and modifications that can substitute for them at the time of filing this application.

[0040] On the other hand, while terms such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used in this specification to indicate direction, these terms are for convenience of explanation and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that they can change depending on the position, arrangement, rotation of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0041] Furthermore, this specification includes a variety of embodiments, and detailed descriptions of parts where the descriptions of other embodiments are identical or similarly applicable will be omitted, with the focus being on the differences.

[0042] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along A1-A1' in Figure 1.

[0043] Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cell assembly 100, a module case 200, a cooling member 300, and a heat dissipation member 400.

[0044] The cell assembly 100 may comprise one or more battery cells 110, in particular a plurality of battery cells 110. Here, each battery cell 110 may mean a single secondary battery itself, or a group of batteries comprising a plurality of secondary batteries. In this specification, battery cell 110 will be described as referring to a single secondary battery.

[0045] The battery cell 110 may comprise an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. The battery case can take various forms, and depending on the form of the battery case, the battery cell 110 can be classified as a pouch-type cell, a cylindrical cell, a prismatic cell, etc. Since the types and forms of the battery cell 110 are well known at the time of filing this invention, a detailed explanation is omitted. This invention can be applied to various forms of secondary batteries known at the time of filing. Furthermore, while the battery cell 110 may be a lithium secondary battery, it may also be a variety of other forms of secondary batteries.

[0046] In the cell assembly 100, the multiple battery cells 110 may be configured in a stacked configuration in at least one direction. For example, the multiple battery cells 110 may be stacked in a configuration arranged horizontally, particularly in the left-right direction (X-axis direction), as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, the multiple battery cells 110 provided in the cell assembly 100 may be electrically connected to each other in series and / or parallel via busbars (not shown) or the like.

[0047] On the other hand, in this specification, unless otherwise specified, the X-axis direction in which multiple battery cells 110 are stacked is described as the left-right direction, the Y-axis direction, which is the horizontal direction perpendicular to the cell stacking direction, is described as the front-back direction, and the Z-axis direction, which is perpendicular to the XY plane, is described as the up-down direction (vertical direction). In the case of pouch-type cells, the Y-axis direction may also be described as the longitudinal direction of the cell. Furthermore, the left-right direction, front-back direction, and up-down direction may also be described as the first direction, second direction, and third direction, respectively.

[0048] Each battery cell 110 may be provided with electrode terminals 111. For example, as shown in Figure 2, each pouch-type cell provided in the cell assembly 100 may be provided with electrode terminals 111 that protrude in the front-to-back direction. Such electrode terminals 111 may be referred to as electrode leads or electrode tabs. Multiple battery cells 110 may be electrically connected to each other in series or parallel through such electrode terminals 111.

[0049] Furthermore, the battery module may further include busbars or the like for facilitating the connection of multiple electrode terminals 111 or for sensing electrical signals from the electrode terminals 111.

[0050] The module case 200 may be configured to have an internal space, in which multiple cell assemblies 100 can be housed. For example, the module case 200 may define the internal space by comprising an upper plate 210, a lower plate 220, a left side plate 230, a right side plate 240, a front plate 250, and a rear plate 260. The cell assemblies 100 can then be positioned within this defined internal space. The module case 200 may be composed at least partially of metal and / or plastic materials.

[0051] At least some of the various plate-like members constituting the module case 200 may be configured in an integrated form. For example, as shown in Figure 2, the module case 200 may be manufactured in a monoframe form in which the upper plate 210, lower plate 220, left plate 230, and right plate 240 are integrated with each other. In addition, a front plate 250 and a rear plate 260 may be attached to the open front and rear of the monoframe.

[0052] As another example, the module case 200 may have a U-frame body in which the bottom plate 220, left side plate 230, and right side plate 240 are integrated with each other. In this case, the top plate 210, front plate 250, and rear plate 260 may cover or seal the top, front, and rear of the body. In yet another example, the module case 200 may be constructed in a form in which each plate material is manufactured separately and then joined and fixed to each other. In addition, the module case 200 may be constructed in a variety of other forms or structures. On the other hand, various fastening methods such as welding, bonding, bolting, and hooking may be used to join and fix the unit components of the module case 200 together.

[0053] The cooling member 300 may be configured to dissipate heat through a coolant. Therefore, the cooling member 300 may be in direct or indirect contact with the coolant. In particular, the cooling member 300 may be configured so that the coolant flows through it. For example, the cooling member 300 may have a hollow interior to provide a cooling channel, as shown by H in Figure 2. The coolant may then flow through such a cooling channel H. Here, the coolant is a cooling medium capable of absorbing and transferring heat, and may include not only cooling liquids such as cooling water, but also cooling gases.

[0054] On the other hand, the cooling member 300 does not necessarily have to be configured in a way that the coolant flows. For example, the cooling member 300 may be configured to hold the coolant in a predetermined space. The cooling member 300 may be represented by other terms such as a heat sink or implemented in other structures.

[0055] The cooling member 300 may be located on at least one side of the cell assembly 100. Furthermore, the cooling member 300 may absorb heat from the cell assembly 100. For example, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cooling member 300 may be positioned on the lower side of the cell assembly 100. Additionally, if a hollow space is formed in the cooling member 300 and a coolant flows through the hollow space, the coolant can absorb heat from the cell assembly 100 in the lower space of the cell assembly 100, move to other spaces, and release the absorbed heat to the outside.

[0056] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to transfer heat from the battery cells 110 provided in the cell assembly 100 to the cooling member 300. Therefore, the heat dissipation member 400 may include or consist of a thermally conductive material, such as a metallic material like aluminum.

[0057] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member 400 may be positioned opposite at least one battery cell 110. In particular, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured as a sheet or pad having two broad surfaces. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 may be positioned so that at least one of the two surfaces faces the battery cell 110. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, each heat dissipation member 400 may be positioned with a battery cell 110 facing its left side and / or right side.

[0058] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member 400 may be positioned with at least one side facing the cooling member 300. For example, referring to the embodiment in Figure 3, the lower end of the heat dissipation member 400 may be positioned facing the cooling member 300. In this case, the lower end of the heat dissipation member 400 may be in direct or indirect contact with the cooling member 300. For example, in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3, the lower end of the heat dissipation member 400 may be indirectly in contact with the cooling member 300 through the lower plate 220 of the module case 200.

[0059] The heat dissipation member 400 can absorb heat from the corresponding battery cell 110 and transfer the absorbed heat to the cooling member 300. In this case, a thermal conductive material such as a thermally conductive adhesive may be further interposed between the heat dissipation member 400 and the cooling member 300 to increase the thermal conduction efficiency and improve the assembly of the heat dissipation member 400 and other components. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, a thermal resin may be interposed between the heat dissipation member 400 and the lower plate 220.

[0060] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude in part. This will be explained in more detail with further reference to Figure 4.

[0061] Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of a heat dissipation member 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] Referring further to Figure 4, the heat dissipation member 400 may have partially protruding portions, such as those indicated by B1 and B1'. In particular, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude in a predetermined direction from the cooling member 300 side. For example, if the cooling member 300 is located at the bottom, the heat dissipation member 400 may have a form that partially protrudes in a different direction from the bottom, for example, upward. Furthermore, the direction of the partial protrusion of the heat dissipation member 400 may be opposite to the direction in which the cooling member 300 is located. That is, the heat dissipation member 400 may include a portion that protrudes on the opposite side from where the cooling member 300 is located.

[0063] According to this embodiment of the present invention, uniform temperature distribution within a single battery cell 110 can be effectively achieved. Furthermore, in this case, it is possible to prevent phenomena such as lithium deposition caused by partial temperature differences within the cell. Therefore, the performance and safety of the battery module can be stably maintained over a long period of time, and the module cycle performance can be improved.

[0064] As shown in Figure 4, the heat dissipation member 400 may include a main body portion 410 and a protruding portion 420.

[0065] The main body portion 410 may be the part of the heat dissipation member 400 that is located on the side of the cooling member 300. That is, the main body portion 410 may be positioned facing the cooling member 300. In particular, the main body portion 410 may be in direct or indirect contact with the cooling member 300. For example, referring to Figure 4, the cooling member 300 is located below the heat dissipation member 400, and the main body portion 410 may be positioned so that its lower edge is in direct contact with the heat dissipation member 400 on the lower side of the heat dissipation member 400, or indirect contact through thermal resin or the like. The main body portion 410 may occupy 50% or more of the area of ​​the heat dissipation member 400, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this form.

[0066] The protruding portion 420 may be configured to extend outwards in a predetermined direction from at least one side of the main body portion 410. For example, the protruding portion 420 may have a form that protrudes upward from the upper end of the main body portion 410, as shown in Figure 4. In particular, the protruding portion 420 may be a portion configured to partially protrude from the heat dissipation member 400, as shown by the portions B1 and B1' in Figure 4. The protruding portion 420 may also have a narrower width than the main body portion 410. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 4, the width (length) of the protruding portion 420 in the left-right direction (Y-axis direction) may be formed to be narrower than the left-right width of the main body portion 410.

[0067] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured in a form in which the main body portion 410 and the protruding portion 420 are integrated. For example, the heat dissipation member 400 may be a single metal member and may be manufactured in a form that is joined together from the beginning. In particular, if the heat dissipation member 400 is configured in a sheet form, the main body portion 410 and the protruding portion 420 may be manufactured as a single sheet.

[0068] The main body portion 410 and the protruding portion 420 may be configured so that their surfaces lie on the same plane. For example, if the main body portion 410 and the protruding portion 420 are each configured in sheet form, the main body portion 410 and the protruding portion 420 may be arranged on the same YZ plane.

[0069] According to the above embodiment, selective heat absorption to a specific part of the battery cell 110 can be easily achieved through the configuration of the protrusion 420. In this case, the heat absorbed on the protrusion 420 side moves to the main body 410 side and is rapidly cooled. Therefore, the effect of temperature uniformity through partial thermal management of the battery cell 110 can be further improved.

[0070] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to partially protrude on the high-temperature side of the opposing battery cell 110. This will be further explained with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

[0071] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, with one heat dissipation member 400 and one battery cell 110 separated. Figure 6 is a schematic side view showing a configuration in which the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 of Figure 5 are stacked.

[0072] First, referring to Figure 5, one heat dissipation member 400 may be configured in a way that it is erected vertically (Z-axis direction) and extends in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction). Also, one battery cell 110 may be configured in a way that it is erect vertically and extends in the front-to-back direction, facing the heat dissipation member 400. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 may be stacked facing each other in the left-to-right direction (X-axis direction).

[0073] In such embodiments, the temperature of certain parts of the battery cell 110 may become higher during use (charging, discharging) or storage. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 5, the temperature of the parts of the battery cell 110 indicated by E1 and E1' may be higher than that of other parts. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 positioned opposite the battery cell 110 may be configured so that the parts corresponding to the high-temperature parts protrude. Here, the corresponding parts may be opposing parts when the battery cell 110 and the heat dissipation member 400 are stacked. For example, referring to the configuration shown in Figure 6, when the battery cell 110 and the heat dissipation member 400 are stacked, the parts B1 and B1' of the heat dissipation member 400 corresponding to E1 and E1' of the battery cell 110 may be configured to protrude upward compared to other parts. The heat dissipation member 400 may also be configured to protrude toward the high-temperature parts of the opposing battery cell 110.

[0074] In such embodiments, the high-temperature portion may refer to a part of the battery cell 110 that has a relatively high temperature. For example, the high-temperature portion may be set to a temperature that is a certain level higher than a specific temperature, such as the overall average temperature of the battery cell 110 or room temperature. Such high-temperature portions of the battery cell 110 can be determined in advance through tests, experiments, calculations, etc., during the design phase of the battery module. Furthermore, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to have a protrusion 420 in the portion of the battery cell 110 corresponding to the high-temperature portion. In particular, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude upward in a specific direction, for example, in the opposite direction to the cooling member 300, on the side of the highest-temperature portion of the battery cell 110 where the temperature is highest.

[0075] According to such embodiments of the present invention, heat from the high-temperature side is rapidly transferred to the low-temperature side through the heat dissipation member 400. In particular, in one embodiment, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to connect the highest temperature point and the lowest temperature point of the battery cell 110. In this case, smoothly transferring heat from the high-temperature side to the low-temperature side of the battery cell 110 is even more advantageous in improving the cooling performance of the battery cell 110 and eliminating partial temperature differences.

[0076] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude at the portion where the electrode terminals 111 are located. For example, in the embodiments shown in Figures 5 and 6, the cooling member 300 is located at the bottom, and the battery cell 110 is configured to extend in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction), with electrode terminals 111 located at both ends in the front-rear direction. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to extend in the front-rear direction so as to face the battery cell 110, and both ends in the front-rear direction corresponding to the electrode terminals 111 side of the battery cell 110 may be configured to protrude upward. In such embodiments, it can be said that the ends of the heat dissipation member 400 in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) are configured to be higher than other parts.

[0077] During the charging and discharging process, the portion of the battery cell 110 where the electrode terminals 111 are located often experiences a higher temperature compared to other portions. However, in the above embodiment, the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 located closer to the electrode terminals 111 can be formed to be wider than other portions. That is, in the embodiment shown in Figure 6, when examining the area per unit length of the heat dissipation member 400 in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction), the front end and rear end facing the electrode tabs are the widest compared to other portions.

[0078] According to this embodiment, the temperature of the high-temperature portion of the battery cell 110 where the electrode terminals 111 are located can be rapidly reduced. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature of a specific part of a single battery cell 110, particularly the electrode terminal side 111, from becoming excessively high compared to other parts, and to more effectively achieve uniform temperature distribution in the battery cell 110.

[0079] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured in a partially cut-out form. For example, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the heat dissipation member 400 may be formed in a roughly rectangular sheet shape with the central upper portion cut out. In this case, if the heat dissipation member 400 is stacked with the battery cell 110, a portion of the battery cell 110 may be exposed, as shown by the portion E2 in Figure 6. In particular, the cut-out portion of the heat dissipation member 400 may expose the central upper portion (E2) of the battery cell 110 in the left-right direction.

[0080] In this embodiment, the battery cell 110 may have portions where the heat dissipation member 400 is positioned facing each other and portions where it is not facing each other (E2 in Figure 6). In particular, the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 that is cut out, in other words, the non-facing portion, may not be the hottest part of the battery cell 110 and may have a relatively low temperature. For example, in the battery cell 110 of Figure 6, portion E2 may be a portion with a lower temperature than portion E1.

[0081] According to this embodiment, uniform heat distribution can be easily achieved compared to a rectangular heat dissipation sheet. Furthermore, in this case, the weight of the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery module containing it can be reduced through the cut-out portion, and the energy density of the battery module can be improved by securing space. In addition, in this case, swelling space for the battery cell 110 can also be secured due to the cut-out portion.

[0082] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured such that the width of at least partially protruding portions varies. In particular, the heat dissipation member 400 may have portions that become narrower in width along the direction of protrusion.

[0083] For example, referring to portions B1 and B1' of Figures 5 and 6, the protrusion 420 of the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured such that its width decreases as it extends upward. In particular, the protrusion 420 may be formed in a shape where the width at the end in the protruding direction is narrowest and it tapers to a point. In this case, the protrusion 420 can be said to be configured in a roughly triangular sheet shape. On the other hand, the main body portion 410 can be said to be configured in a roughly square sheet shape.

[0084] Furthermore, the protrusion 420 may be configured such that its width narrows towards the high-temperature portion. For example, as shown in Figure 6, the protrusion 420 may be provided on the portion where the electrode terminals 111 of the battery cell 110 are located and may be configured to protrude upward. In particular, one side of the protrusion 420 may be formed vertically, and the other side may be formed to be inclined by a predetermined angle from the vertical. For example, in portion B1 of Figure 4, the protrusion 420 has a front side and a rear side centered on the upper end vertex, but the front side may extend in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction), and the rear side may extend in a direction inclined by a predetermined angle (e.g., 30°) from the vertical. In this case, the protrusion 420 can be said to have a vertical side (front side) and an inclined side (rear side). In particular, the inclined side may have an inclined shape such that its lower end is toward the center of the main body 410 in the front-to-back direction (Y-axis direction). Also, the vertical side of the protrusion 420 may be configured to be in a straight line with the front end or rear end of the main body 410.

[0085] According to this embodiment, the heat absorbed from the protrusion 420 is more smoothly transferred to the main body 410. In particular, when viewed from the outer shape of the protrusion 420, the width of the heat-releasing portion can be made wider than the heat-absorbing portion. Therefore, the heat transfer path from the protrusion 420 to the main body 410 is widened, enabling faster heat dissipation. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, smoother cooling of the high-temperature portion where the electrode terminal 111 is located is possible.

[0086] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude from two or more parts. For example, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, a single heat dissipation member 400 may have two protrusions 420. As another example, a single heat dissipation member 400 may have three or more protrusions 420.

[0087] Here, each of the multiple protrusions 420 may be formed such that one end is connected to the main body 410 and the other end protrudes toward a different part. For example, the two protrusions 420 shown in Figures 4 to 6 are located on the upper side of the main body 410, their lower ends are connected to the main body 410, and they may extend upward. In this case, the upper ends of the two protrusions 420 may be provided so as to face the front upper and rear upper parts of the battery cell 110, respectively.

[0088] Multiple protrusions 420 can be separated from each other at least partially. For example, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, two protrusions 420 can be arranged spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction). In this case, the two protrusions 420 do not come into contact, and only their lower ends are connected to the same main body 410.

[0089] The above embodiment is more advantageously applicable when high-temperature areas are located in different parts of a single battery cell 110. For example, a single battery cell 110 may have multiple high-temperature areas located at separate locations, and the heat dissipation member 400 may have multiple protrusions 420 in a configuration corresponding to the locations of the multiple high-temperature areas. In this case, heat can be selectively dissipated from the high-temperature areas of the battery cell 110 located in multiple parts, thereby effectively eliminating the temperature differences in the parts of the battery cell 110.

[0090] Furthermore, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110. For example, in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 6, the heat dissipation member 400 may have a form that extends in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction), and protrusions 420 may be provided at both ends in such a front-rear direction.

[0091] In the case of a battery cell 110, particularly a pouch-type battery cell 110, electrode terminals 111 may be provided at both ends in the front-rear direction. Referring more specifically to Figures 5 and 6, the pouch-type battery cell 110 may have a storage section S1 in which the electrode assembly and electrolyte are housed, and a sealing section S2 on its peripheral edge. In this case, the sealing section S2 may be formed by methods such as heat-sealing the pouch-type outer material. Furthermore, the sealing section S2 may be formed on the front, rear, top and / or bottom of the storage section S1. In particular, when a pouch-type cell in an upright configuration is viewed from the left and right sides, it can be said to have a roughly rectangular shape. In this case, a pouch-type cell in which the sealing section S2 is formed on all four sides of the storage section S1 is also called a four-sided sealing cell, and a pouch-type cell in which the sealing section S2 is formed on three sides of the storage section S1 is also called a three-sided sealing cell. However, the present invention is not limited to such specific forms or structures of battery cells 110, particularly pouch-type cells, and various forms of battery cells 110 known at the time of filing the present invention may be used in the present invention.

[0092] As shown in the embodiments of Figures 5 and 6, when the battery cell 110 has electrode terminals 111 at both ends in the longitudinal direction, the heat dissipation member 400 may also be configured to protrude upward (+Z axis direction) at both ends in the longitudinal direction (front-to-back direction) of the battery cell 110. Furthermore, the protruding portion 420 may be configured to protrude vertically from both ends in the front-to-back direction of the main body portion 410.

[0093] According to this embodiment of the present invention, temperature differences can be suppressed and cooling performance can be ensured more effectively for pouch-type battery cells 110 such as bidirectional cells.

[0094] The heat dissipation member 400 can be configured such that the heat dissipation performance of two or more protruding portions differs. Such differences in heat dissipation performance between protruding portions can be achieved by varying the shape, structure, thickness, and material of the protrusions. This will be described in more detail later with reference to various embodiments.

[0095] Figures 7 to 9 are schematic diagrams showing the configuration of the heat dissipation member 400 according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0096] Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the heat dissipation member 400 may be provided with a main body portion 410 and two protrusions 420. In this case, the two protrusions 420 may be positioned in front of and behind the main body portion 410, respectively, and may be divided into a front protrusion 420F and a rear protrusion 420R.

[0097] First, referring to Figure 7, the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) are rectangular in shape and can be configured to have equal height in the vertical direction. However, the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) can have different lengths (widths) in the front-to-back direction. For example, as shown in Figure 7, if the width of the front protrusion 420F is W1 and the width of the rear protrusion 420R is W1', the heat dissipation performance between the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) can be differentiated by making the sizes of W1 and W1' different.

[0098] In particular, in the above embodiment, if the heights of the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) are equal, the heat dissipation performance of the wider portion is superior. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the width (W1) of the front protrusion 420F is wider than the width (W1') of the rear protrusion 420R, so the heat dissipation performance of the front protrusion 420F is superior to that of the rear protrusion 420R.

[0099] As another example, referring to Figure 8, the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) may be rectangular in shape and have equal widths. However, the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) may have different heights in the vertical direction. For example, as shown in Figure 8, if the height of the front protrusion 420F is I1 and the height of the rear protrusion 420R is I1', the heat dissipation performance between the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) can be differentiated by making the sizes of I1 and I1' different.

[0100] In particular, in the above embodiment, if the width between the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) is equal, the heat dissipation performance of the taller portion is superior. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the height (I1) of the front protrusion 420F is greater than the height (I1') of the rear protrusion 420R, so the heat dissipation performance of the front protrusion 420F is superior to that of the rear protrusion 420R.

[0101] As another example, referring to Figure 9, the two protrusions (front protrusion 420F and rear protrusion 420R) may have different shapes in addition to their height and width. For example, as shown, the front protrusion 420F may be trapezoidal, and the rear protrusion 420R may be triangular. In this case, if the surface area of ​​the front protrusion 420F is R1 and the surface area of ​​the rear protrusion 420R is R1', then by making R1 and R1' different, the heat dissipation performance between the two protrusions can be differentiated.

[0102] In particular, in the above embodiment, relatively superior heat dissipation performance can be ensured in the portion where a large surface area is formed. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, since the surface area (R1) of the front projection 420F is larger than the surface area (R1') of the rear projection 420R, the heat dissipation performance of the front projection 420F is superior to that of the rear projection 420R.

[0103] As another example, as shown in Figure 4, the two protrusions 420 located on the front and rear sides may be configured to have the same shape and area when viewed from the side. However, the two protrusions 420 may be configured to have different thicknesses when viewed from the front or rear.

[0104] In particular, a portion formed with a relatively thicker thickness may have higher heat dissipation performance compared to a portion formed with a thinner thickness. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the thickness of the forward projection 420F located in portion B1 may be formed to be thicker than the thickness of the rear projection 420R located in portion B1'. In this case, the forward projection 420F may have higher heat dissipation performance than the rear projection 420R.

[0105] On the other hand, in Figures 7 to 9, for the sake of explanation, the boundary between the main body portion 410 and the protruding portion 420 is shown by a dotted line. However, this is only one embodiment, and the protruding portion 420 and the main body portion 410 may not always be clearly separated.

[0106] Multiple high-temperature areas may be formed in a single battery cell 110, and the temperatures may differ even within these multiple high-temperature areas. The above-described embodiment can be said to be a configuration that differentiates the heat dissipation performance between the protrusions 420 provided on a single heat dissipation member 400. Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, suitable cooling can be performed for each part of the multiple high-temperature areas with temperature differences. Thus, it is possible to effectively address partial temperature differences within a single battery cell 110.

[0107] For example, in a battery cell 110, the area where the electrode terminals 111 are located may be hotter than other parts. Also, there may be a temperature difference between the electrode terminals 111. In particular, in a battery cell 110, the area where the negative electrode terminal is located may be hotter than the area where the positive electrode terminal is located. In this case, in the embodiments shown in Figures 7 to 9, by positioning the front projection 420F on the negative electrode terminal side and the rear projection 420R on the positive electrode terminal side, the heat dissipation performance of the projection 420 located on the negative electrode terminal side can be made higher than that of the projection 420 located on the positive electrode terminal side. Therefore, by dissipating the heat from the relatively hotter negative electrode terminal side more quickly than from the positive electrode terminal side, the temperature difference between the negative electrode terminal side and the positive electrode terminal side can be reduced.

[0108] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a heat dissipation member 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0109] As shown in Figure 10, the heat dissipation member 400 may have an inner projection and an outer projection arranged in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery cell 110. Here, inner and outer refer to relative positions, where the part relatively closer to the central part of the battery cell 110 may be the inner part, and the part relatively farther from the central part of the battery cell 110 may be the outer part. In the embodiment of Figure 10, the projection indicated by 420B may be the outer projection, and the projection indicated by 420C may be the inner projection.

[0110] Two or more outer protrusions 420B and / or inner protrusions 420C may be provided. For example, as shown in Figure 10, two outer protrusions 420B may be provided and located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the heat dissipation member 400. In this case, the inner protrusion 420C may be located between the two outer protrusions 420B. Furthermore, the inner protrusion 420C may be located in the central part of the battery cell 110 in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the outer protrusions 420B and / or inner protrusions 420C may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 110.

[0111] In the case of a battery cell 110 positioned opposite the heat dissipation member 400, high-temperature areas may be present both inside and outside in the longitudinal direction. In the above embodiment, the outer protrusion 420B is responsible for dissipating heat from the outer high-temperature areas, and the inner protrusion 420C is responsible for dissipating heat from the inner high-temperature areas. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 10, two outer protrusions 420B may cool the areas indicated by C1 and C1', and one inner protrusion 420C may cool the area indicated by C2. Therefore, according to such an embodiment, the heat dissipation member 400 can quickly and smoothly dissipate heat from high-temperature areas located in multiple parts on the inside and outside of the battery cell 110.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the outer protrusion 420B and the inner protrusion 420C may be configured to have different shapes and structures. In particular, the outer protrusion 420B and the inner protrusion 420C may be configured to have different heat dissipation performance.

[0113] For example, referring to Figure 10, the degree of protrusion of the outer protrusion 420B and the inner protrusion 420C may differ. More specifically, the outer protrusion 420B may be configured to protrude relatively higher than the inner protrusion 420C. In particular, the outer protrusion 420B may have a larger heat dissipation area than the inner protrusion 420C. In other words, the inner protrusion 420C may be configured to be smaller than the outer protrusion 420B.

[0114] According to this embodiment, if there is a temperature difference between the portion facing the outer protrusion 420B and the portion facing the inner protrusion 420C, this temperature difference can be appropriately addressed by differentiating the heat dissipation performance. For example, using a pouch-type cell as a reference, the electrode terminals 111 are located close to the ends indicated by C1 and C1', and may become hotter than the central portion indicated by C2. In this case, since the protruding area of ​​the outer protrusion 420B is larger than the protruding area of ​​the inner protrusion 420C, the relatively hotter portion, especially the hotter portion on the electrode terminal 111 side, is cooled more smoothly. Therefore, the temperature difference in parts of the battery cell 110 can be addressed more effectively.

[0115] Multiple heat dissipation members 400 can be provided in the battery module. Furthermore, multiple heat dissipation members 400 can be arranged side-by-side along the stacking direction of the battery cells 110. For example, referring to the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3, if multiple battery cells 110 are stacked in the left-right direction (X-axis direction) in the cell assembly 100, the multiple heat dissipation members 400 can also be stacked side-by-side along the left-right direction.

[0116] In this case, each heat dissipation member 400 may be positioned to face a different battery cell 110 or a different side of a battery cell 110. Furthermore, at least some of the multiple heat dissipation members 400 may be interposed between adjacent battery cells 110. In this case, the distance between adjacent battery cells 110 in which the heat dissipation members 400 are interposed may be a certain distance to accommodate the heat dissipation members 400. Also, at least some of the multiple heat dissipation members 400 may be positioned outside the cell assembly 100. In particular, on the left and right sides of a cell assembly 100 having battery cells 110 stacked in the left-right direction, heat dissipation members 400 may be stacked facing the outermost cell.

[0117] On the other hand, the embodiment shown in Figure 3 shows a configuration in which the heat dissipation member 400 is interposed in the space between all adjacent cells, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to this configuration. For example, the heat dissipation member 400 may be interposed between cell groups containing multiple battery cells 110.

[0118] In the embodiment described above, which includes multiple heat dissipation members 400, at least some of the multiple heat dissipation members 400 may be configured to have different protruding shapes. This will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 11 and other figures.

[0119] FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of different heat dissipation members 400 included in a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. That is, a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a plurality of heat dissipation members 400, and the plurality of heat dissipation members 400 do not have the same shape, and may include both the heat dissipation member 400 configured in a shape as shown in (a) of FIG. 11 and the heat dissipation member 400 configured in a shape as shown in (b) of FIG. 11.

[0120] In FIG. 11, comparing the heat dissipation member 400 shown in (a) with the heat dissipation member 400 shown in (b), the protrusion 420 of the heat dissipation member 400 in (b) is formed wider than that of the heat dissipation member 400 in (a). Specifically, the front protrusion 420F and the rear protrusion 420R of the heat dissipation member 400 in (a) may each have widths of Wa and Wa', respectively. Further, the front protrusion 420F and the rear protrusion 420R of the heat dissipation member 400 in (b) may each have widths of Wb and Wb', respectively. At this time, looking at the sizes of Wa, Wb, Wa' and Wb', the relationship satisfies Wa < Wb and Wa' < Wb'. When each protrusion 420 has the same height, the heat dissipation member 400 of (b) can have a larger surface area than the heat dissipation member 400 of (a).

[0121] In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 of (b) can have better heat dissipation performance than the heat dissipation member 400 of (a). That is, in the above embodiment, at least a part of the plurality of heat dissipation members 400 can be configured to have different heat dissipation performance. Further, the heat dissipation member 400 can change its protrusion shape or heat dissipation performance depending on the protrusion height, thickness, and the like.

[0122] According to this embodiment, the temperature difference between opposing battery cells 110 can be effectively addressed. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 3, in the stacking direction of the cell assembly 100, the temperature and temperature distribution may differ between battery cells 110 located towards the center, such as in the portion indicated by D1, and battery cells 110 located towards the outer perimeter, such as in the portion indicated by D2. For example, battery cells 110 stacked relatively towards the center, such as in portion D1, may have a higher temperature than battery cells 110 stacked relatively towards the outer perimeter, such as in portion D2. Therefore, the heat dissipation member 400 located towards the center, such as in portion D1, can have a larger area of ​​protrusion 420 compared to the heat dissipation member 400 located towards the outer perimeter, such as in portion D2. For example, the heat dissipation member 400 in Figure 11(b) may be placed in portion D1 in Figure 3, and the heat dissipation member 400 in Figure 11(a) may be placed in portion D2 in Figure 3.

[0123] According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide heat dissipation members 400 having a suitable shape for each of the multiple battery cells 110 included in the cell assembly 100. Therefore, it is possible not only to reduce partial temperature differences among the battery cells 110, but also to effectively reduce temperature differences between different battery cells 110.

[0124] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the configurations of different heat dissipation members 400 included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0125] Referring to Figure 12, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention may include different forms of heat dissipation members 400 as shown in (a) and (b). In particular, the heat dissipation member 400 of (b) differs from the heat dissipation member 400 of (a) in that it may further include an inner projection 420C in addition to the outer projection 420B. The inner projection 420C plays a role in more quickly and smoothly absorbing and dissipating heat from the central portion of the opposing battery cell 110, as described above in the embodiment of Figure 10.

[0126] In the case of battery cells 110 stacked in the central part of the cell assembly 100, as shown in part D1 of Figure 3, the temperature in the central part in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) may be higher than that of battery cells 110 stacked in the outer part, as shown in part D2 of Figure 3. Therefore, it is preferable to interpose the heat dissipation member 400 shown in Figure 12(b), which has an inner protrusion 420C, between the battery cells 110 stacked in the central part of the cell assembly 100, as shown in part D1 of Figure 3. On the other hand, it is preferable to interpose the heat dissipation member 400 shown in Figure 12(a), which does not have an inner protrusion 420C, between the battery cells 110 stacked in the outer part of the cell assembly 100, as shown in part D2 of Figure 3.

[0127] According to such embodiments, it is possible to provide a suitable heat dissipation member 400 that takes into account the stacking position of the battery cells 110. In particular, according to one embodiment, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the battery cells 110 stacked in the center from rising excessively. Therefore, temperature uniformity is more advantageous not only within a single battery cell 110 but also throughout the entire cell assembly 100.

[0128] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of different heat dissipation members 400 included in a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0129] Referring to Figure 13, a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention may include together different forms of heat dissipation members 400 as shown in (a) and (b). Here, the heat dissipation member 400 of (a) may have a forward projection 420F that is wider than the rear projection 420R, and the heat dissipation member 400 of (b) may have a rear projection 420R that is wider than the forward projection 420F. That is, a plurality of heat dissipation members 400 included in one battery module may include together heat dissipation members 400 with a wide forward projection 420F and heat dissipation members 400 with a wide rear projection 420R.

[0130] In particular, when multiple bidirectional battery cells 110, in which the positive and negative terminals are located on opposite sides, are stacked, the arrangement of the positive and negative terminals may vary for each battery cell 110. For example, some groups of battery cells 110 may be arranged with the positive terminal facing forward, while other groups of battery cells 110 may be arranged with the negative terminal facing forward.

[0131] In this case, depending on the arrangement of the electrode terminals 111 of the opposing battery cells 110, either the heat dissipation member 400 shown in Figure 13(a) or the heat dissipation member 400 shown in Figure 13(b) may be arranged. For example, for a battery cell 110 with the negative electrode terminal positioned at the front, the heat dissipation member 400 shown in Figure 13(a), which has a large forward projection 420F, may be positioned opposite it. On the other hand, for a battery cell 110 with the negative electrode terminal positioned at the rear, the heat dissipation member 400 shown in Figure 13(b), which has a large rear projection 420R, may be positioned opposite it. Furthermore, for a cell assembly 100 in which the positions of the negative electrode terminals alternate between the front and rear due to the series connection of the battery cells 110, the heat dissipation member 400 with a large forward projection 420F and the heat dissipation member 400 with a large rear projection 420R may be arranged alternately.

[0132] According to this embodiment, even in a configuration where the battery cells 110 included in the cell assembly 100 are stacked alternately, the temperature difference can be reduced more effectively.

[0133] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a heat dissipation member 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0134] Referring to Figure 14, a notch may be formed in the heat dissipation member 400, as shown by the portion indicated by N. In particular, the notch N may be formed at the end on the side where the cooling member 300 is located. For example, if the cooling member 300 is located below the heat dissipation member 400, the notch N may be formed at the lower end of the heat dissipation member 400.

[0135] The notch N may be formed in a shape that is recessed inward from the end. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the notch N may be formed in a shape that is cut out in a concave shape from the lower end of the heat dissipation member 400 toward upward. Furthermore, multiple notches N may be formed along the tip of the heat dissipation member 400. For example, as shown in Figure 14, if the heat dissipation member 400 extends for a long distance in the front-rear direction (Y-axis direction), multiple notches N may be arranged in the front-rear direction from the lower end of the heat dissipation member 400. In particular, multiple notches N may be arranged spaced apart from each other. In this case, it can be said that the notches N form irregularities at the end of the heat dissipation member 400.

[0136] The portion of the heat dissipation member 400 in which the notch N is formed may come into direct or indirect contact with the cooling member 300. For example, a thermal resin may be interposed between the heat dissipation member 400 and the cooling member 300. In this case, the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 with the notch N may come into contact with the thermal resin. In particular, the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 with the notch N may be configured in a form in which it is at least partially inserted into the thermal resin. Furthermore, the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 in which the notch N is formed, for example, the uneven portion, may be inserted into the thermal resin in an upright plate-like form, such as the main body portion 410 or the protruding portion 420, as shown in Figure 14.

[0137] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the heat transfer performance of the heat dissipation member 400 and the cooling member 300 is increased. Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, assembly or fixability can be improved without increasing the volume or weight of the heat dissipation member 400.

[0138] The heat dissipation member 400 may be configured such that the distance between it and the opposing battery cell 110 is partially different. This will be explained in more detail with reference to Figure 15.

[0139] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration in which a heat dissipation member 400 according to one embodiment of the present invention is facing one battery cell 110.

[0140] Referring to Figure 15, the battery cell 110 and the heat dissipation member 400 can be positioned facing each other horizontally (in the X-axis direction) while standing upright in the vertical direction (in the Z-axis direction). In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 can be configured such that the separation distance from the battery cell 110 is partially different. More specifically, the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 indicated by F1 can be formed closer to the battery cell 110 than the other portions of the heat dissipation member 400. That is, the horizontal separation distance from the battery cell 110 in the portion of the heat dissipation member 400 indicated by F1 can be shorter than the horizontal separation distance from the battery cell 110 in the portions indicated by F2 and F3. Here, a short separation distance may include a distance of 0, in other words, a case where the battery cell 110 and the heat dissipation member 400 are in direct contact.

[0141] In particular, when the heat dissipation member 400 is provided with a main body portion 410 and a protruding portion 420, at least a portion of the protruding portion 420 may be formed to have a shorter distance from the battery cell 110 compared to other portions. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 15, the portion indicated by F1 may belong to the protruding portion 420, and the portion indicated by F3 may belong to the main body portion 410. In this case, the portion F1 corresponding to the protruding portion 420 may be positioned closer to the battery cell 110 than the portion F3 corresponding to the main body portion 410.

[0142] Furthermore, the protrusion 420 may be formed so that the separation distance from the battery cell 110 differs in parts. For example, both parts F1 and F2 in Figure 15 may belong to a single protrusion 420, as shown in B1 in Figure 4. In this case, even within the same protrusion 420, the separation distance from the cell may differ between the part indicated by F1 and the part indicated by F2.

[0143] According to this embodiment, heat from the high-temperature section can be transferred to the cooling member 300 more quickly and smoothly. For example, in the battery cell 110 shown in Figure 15, the section indicated by J1 may be the high-temperature section, the section indicated by J2 may be the medium-temperature section, and the section indicated by J3 may be the low-temperature section. In this case, the F1 section of the heat dissipation member 400 is the section facing the high-temperature section J1 of the battery cell 110 and can directly absorb heat from the high-temperature section J1. Furthermore, the heat absorbed in the F1 section can be transferred to the cooling member 300 via the F2 and F3 sections of the heat dissipation member 400. At this time, when the heat from the high-temperature section J1 passes through the F2 section of the heat dissipation member 400, the separation distance between the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 can be formed to be relatively far. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of heat from the medium-temperature section J2 along with the heat from the high-temperature section J1 in the F2 section of the heat dissipation member 400. Therefore, it is possible to prevent or reduce the problem of the heat dissipation performance of the high-temperature section J1 being reduced by the heat from the medium-temperature section J2.

[0144] Furthermore, in the heat dissipation member 400, the portion (F1) facing the high-temperature portion J1 of the battery cell 110 is in contact with it, while the portion (F2) facing the medium-temperature portion J2 is separated by a predetermined distance. In this case, the heat absorption performance for the high-temperature portion J1 is increased, and a certain degree of heat insulation effect is ensured on the medium-temperature portion J2 side by the separation space. Therefore, when heat from the high-temperature portion J1 of the battery cell 110 moves to the cooling member 300 side, interference from the heat on the medium-temperature portion J2 side can be reduced.

[0145] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the heat dissipation member 400 may have better heat absorption performance on the high-temperature side J1 than on the medium-temperature side J2 and / or the low-temperature side J3. Therefore, the temperature uniformity effect of the battery cell 110 by the heat dissipation member 400 can be further improved.

[0146] In the above embodiment, a partial difference in the separation distance between the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 can be achieved in various ways. For example, as shown in Figure 15, a partial difference in the separation distance between the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 can be created by partially varying the thickness of the heat dissipation member 400. In this case, it can also be said that a protrusion is formed on a specific part of the heat dissipation member 400. As another example, a partial difference in the separation distance between the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 can be created by attaching a heat conductor to a specific part of the heat dissipation member 400. As yet another example, the heat dissipation member 400 may not be positioned upright parallel to the battery cell 110, but rather inclined at a predetermined angle (greater than 0°) from the vertical. In this case, the separation distance between the heat dissipation member 400 and the battery cell 110 can be partially changed by the configuration in which the heat dissipation member 400 is positioned at an angle. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 may be inclined toward the battery cell 110 so that the portion on the high-temperature side J1 is closer than the portion on the low-temperature side J3.

[0147] On the other hand, while the various embodiments described above have primarily illustrated and explained pouch-type batteries with electrode terminals 111 protruding in both directions (forward and backward), a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention may include other diverse forms of battery cells 110. These will be explained in more detail with further reference to Figure 16.

[0148] Figure 16 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the configuration of one battery cell 110 and one heat dissipation member 400 included in a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0149] Referring to Figure 16, the cell assembly 100 may include a battery cell 110 in which the electrode terminals 111 are arranged in the same direction. In particular, such a battery cell 110 may be a prismatic battery. For example, in the battery cell 110, both electrode terminals 111, namely the positive terminal and the negative terminal, may be located on the upper side, as shown in the figure. In such a form of battery cell 110, the high-temperature portion may be located on the upper side, particularly between the two electrode terminals 111, as shown in the portion indicated by Q1.

[0150] In this case, if the cooling member 300 is located below the battery cell 110, the heat dissipation member 400 may have a main body portion 410 on the lower side and a protruding portion 420 on the upper side. In particular, the high-temperature portion of the battery cell 110 may be a single region as shown in Q1, and the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured to protrude toward the portion shown in Q1. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 has one protruding portion 420, and such a protruding portion 420 may be provided between the two electrode terminals 111 in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction) of the battery cell 110, particularly in the central portion. Furthermore, the protruding portion 420 may have a form that protrudes upward from the main body portion 410.

[0151] According to this embodiment, it is possible to ensure a reduction in temperature difference for a battery cell 110 in which the high-temperature area is formed in a single region. Furthermore, when the positive and negative terminals are located in the same direction, as in a prismatic battery, the heat dissipation member 400, which has a protruding shape to match this, can improve the heat dissipation performance to the high-temperature area.

[0152] In particular, in the embodiment shown in Figure 16, the protruding portion 420 may have a portion indicated by K1 and a portion indicated by K2. In this case, the K1 portion may be the portion facing the high-temperature portion Q1 of the battery cell 110. The portion indicated by K3 may be the portion corresponding to the main body portion 410. In a heat dissipation member 400 of this form, the K1 portion may directly absorb heat from the high-temperature portion Q1, and the K2 portion may transfer heat from the high-temperature portion Q1 to the K3 portion. As a result, the K3 portion of the heat dissipation member 400 can discharge heat to the cooling member 300.

[0153] The configuration of Figure 15 described above can also be applied to the embodiment shown in Figure 16. That is, the configurations of parts F1, F2, and F3 in Figure 15 can be applied identically or similarly to parts K1, K2, and K3 in Figure 16.

[0154] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a heat dissipation member 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0155] Referring to Figure 17, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured in a form that protrudes toward the high-temperature portion, with at least a portion of the protruding portion being bent. More specifically, in the battery cell 110, the high-temperature portion may be located in the portions indicated by Q2 and Q2'. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 may be configured such that the protruding portion 420 protrudes from the main body portion 410 toward the high-temperature portions Q2 and Q2', and a bent portion exists. In particular, in the embodiment of Figure 17, the front protruding portion 420F and the rear protruding portion 420R have a form that protrudes upward from the front end and rear end of the main body portion 410, but can be bent in a predetermined direction. Furthermore, the front protruding portion 420F may have a form in which it protrudes upward and then its upper end is bent backward (+Y axis direction). Also, the rear protruding portion 420R may have a form in which it protrudes upward and then its upper end is bent forward (-Y axis direction).

[0156] According to the above embodiment, the heat dissipation member 400 can effectively transfer heat from the high-temperature side of the battery cell 110 to the cooling member 300 side. In particular, in the above embodiment, the bent shape of the protrusion 420 allows the heat dissipation member 400 to avoid certain parts of the battery cell 110. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 17, the part indicated by Q3 may be a medium-temperature area. In this case, the heat dissipation member 400 can be configured, by the bent structure of the protrusion 420, so that the heat transfer path of heat absorbed on the high-temperature side Q2, Q2' side passes through the medium-temperature side Q3 side as little as possible. In this case, the heat from the high-temperature side Q2, Q2' can be directly discharged to the cooling member 300 through the main body 410. Therefore, the heat dissipation efficiency of the high-temperature side heat of the battery cell 110 is further improved, which is more advantageous in eliminating partial temperature differences in the battery cell 110 or battery module.

[0157] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a heat dissipation member 400 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0158] Referring to Figure 18, the heat dissipation member 400 may include a main body portion 410 and a plurality of protrusions 420. In this case, the main body portion 410 may be configured such that the regions corresponding to the plurality of protrusions 420 are at least partially separated.

[0159] For example, the heat dissipation member 400 may include a first protrusion 421, a second protrusion 422, and a third protrusion 423. Furthermore, a main body 410 may be positioned below such a plurality of protrusions 420. In this case, the main body 410 may have slits formed in a shape that is recessed inward from the portions where each protrusion (first protrusion 421, second protrusion 422, third protrusion 423) is provided, as indicated by L1 and L2. Such slits (first slit L1, second slit L2) may be configured to divide the main body 410 into unit regions corresponding to each protrusion 420.

[0160] More specifically, a first slit L1 may be formed in the main body portion 410 below the upper edge of the portion where the first projection 421 and the second projection 422 are connected. The first slit L1 may divide a part of the main body portion 410 into a first main body portion 411 and a second main body portion 412. A second slit L2 may be formed in the main body portion 410 below the upper edge of the portion where the second projection 422 and the third projection 423 are connected. The second slit L2 may divide a part of the main body portion 410 into a second main body portion 412 and a third main body portion 413. In this embodiment, the two slits (first slit L1, second slit L2) divide the main body portion 410 into three unit regions, each corresponding to one of the three projections 420.

[0161] According to the above embodiment, since there is a main body portion 410 corresponding to each of the multiple protrusions 420, the heat dissipation performance of each protrusion 420 is further improved. In particular, it prevents the transfer of heat absorbed by a specific protrusion 420 from being hindered by the heat absorbed by other protrusions 420, and allows heat to be discharged to the cooling member 300 side.

[0162] For example, in the embodiment of Figure 18, the portion facing the first protrusion 421 may be a hotter portion than the portion facing the second protrusion 422. For example, the first protrusion 421 may be the outer protrusion 420B in the embodiment of Figure 10 described above, and the second protrusion 422 may be the inner protrusion 420C in the embodiment of Figure 10 described above. In this case, the heat absorbed by the first protrusion 421 can be directly transferred to the cooling member 300 located below through the first main body 411. In this case, the heat absorbed by the second protrusion 422 is not transferred to the first main body 411 side due to the first slit L1. Therefore, when the heat from the first protrusion 421 is discharged through the first main body 411, it is possible to prevent the accumulation of heat from the second protrusion 422 and the resulting decrease in discharge performance.

[0163] In the above embodiment, the slits (first slit L1, second slit L2) may be configured in a way that does not completely separate the multiple unit body parts (first body part 411, second body part 412, third body part 413). For example, the slits (first slit L1, second slit L2) extend downward from the upper end of the body part 410, but do not extend to the lower end of the body part 410. In this case, since there are parts that are connected to each other, the assembly, handling, and structural stability of the heat dissipation member 400 can be ensured to a certain level or higher.

[0164] Figure 19 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. For example, Figure 19 may be a modified example of the embodiment shown in Figure 3.

[0165] Referring to Figure 19, the cooling member 300 may be provided inside the module case 200. For example, a hollow can be formed in the lower plate 220 of the module case 200, and a coolant can flow through this hollow. In this case, the hollow formed in the module case 200 can be said to function as a cooling channel H.

[0166] In such embodiments, the cooling member 300 can be said to be coupled to at least a part of the module case 200. In other words, the module case 200 may be configured to incorporate a cooling function or cooling configuration. In such embodiments, the heat dissipation member 400 may be in direct contact with the cooling member 300 or be very close to it. For example, as shown in Figure 19, if a thermal resin T is interposed between the heat dissipation member 400 and the cooling member 300, the heat from the heat dissipation member 400 can be directly transferred to the cooling member 300 through the thermal resin T. Therefore, in this case, the cooling performance or cell temperature uniformity performance of the heat dissipation member 400 can be further improved.

[0167] Furthermore, the cooling member 300 does not necessarily have to have a hollow cooling channel H as shown in Figure 3 or Figure 19. For example, the cooling member 300 may be configured to expose a specific part and dissipate heat through contact with the outside air. In particular, the present invention can be realized even in a configuration in which the cooling member 300 is removed in the battery module shown in Figure 1. For example, when air comes into contact with the lower space of the module case 200, the heat transferred from the heat dissipation member 400 to the lower plate 220 side of the module case 200 can be discharged to the outside through the outside air. In this case, the module case 200 and the cooling member 300 can be said to be integrated.

[0168] Referring to Figure 19, the cell assembly 100 may further comprise a barrier 120 in addition to the battery cells 110. One or more, and more particularly, multiple barriers 120 may be provided in a single cell assembly 100. Furthermore, the barriers 120 may be positioned in the cell assembly 100 between adjacent battery cells 110 or on the outermost side in the stacking direction of the cell assembly 100. The barrier 120 is plate-shaped and may face the surface of the battery cell 110, particularly the outer surface of the housing S1 of the pouch-type cell. Furthermore, the barrier 120 may be attached to the outer surface of the housing S1 of the pouch-type cell. Alternatively, the barrier 120 may be positioned to face at least partially the heat dissipation member 400.

[0169] The barrier 120 may be configured to absorb the swelling of the battery cells 110. Therefore, the barrier 120 may include an elastic material such as urethane or rubber. In particular, the barrier 120 can absorb the swelling of the central portion in the height direction (Z-axis direction) for a plurality of stacked battery cells 110.

[0170] Furthermore, the barrier 120 may be configured to block heat and / or flame between adjacent battery cells 110 in the cell assembly 100. For this reason, the barrier 120 may include materials such as silicon, mica, GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic), or CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic).

[0171] Furthermore, the barrier 120 may be configured to perform other diverse functions and may contain other diverse materials.

[0172] The heat dissipation member 400 can be attached to the surface of the battery cell 110 included in the cell assembly 100. Therefore, the heat dissipation member 400 may have an adhesive material on the surface facing the battery cell 110. For example, in the case of the heat dissipation member 400 included in part D1 of Figure 3, double-sided adhesive tape may be provided on the left and right sides, respectively, to adhere and fix it to the battery cell 110.

[0173] Figure 20 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0174] Referring to Figure 20, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may include one or more battery modules according to one embodiment of the present invention, as indicated by M. Furthermore, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a variety of other components in addition to the battery module M according to one embodiment of the present invention. For example, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a battery management system (BMS), busbars, relays, current sensors, and other battery pack components known at the time of filing of the present invention.

[0175] Furthermore, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include a pack case, as shown by PC in Figure 20. Such a pack case PC may provide space for housing battery modules according to one embodiment of the present invention. In particular, if the battery pack includes multiple battery modules, the pack case PC may be partitioned into spaces for housing the multiple battery modules separately by crossbeams or the like.

[0176] In such a battery pack configuration, the pack case PC can function at least partially as a cooling member 300. In particular, cooling channels may be formed in at least a portion of the pack case PC for cooling one or more battery modules. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figure 20, cooling channels H may be formed in the base plate BP of the pack case PC on which the battery modules are mounted. Furthermore, the pack case PC may be provided with coolant inlets and outlets, as indicated by PI and PO, to allow a coolant such as cooling water to flow in and out of the cooling channels H of the base plate BP.

[0177] Figure 21 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0178] Referring to Figure 21, a battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, but without providing a separate module case 200 and pack case, the module case 200 of the battery module may be configured to function as a pack case PC. In this case, the module case 200 may contain battery pack components such as a battery management system, busbars, and relays. Such a form of battery pack is also called cell-to-pack (CTP) in that the battery cells 110 are directly housed in the pack case PC. In recent years, there has been active development regarding such CTP-type battery packs, and the present invention is also applicable to such CTP-type battery packs.

[0179] In particular, the module case 200 as a pack case PC may include a cooling configuration, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 20. In this case, the heat from the heat dissipation member 400, which is placed between multiple battery cells 110, comes into direct contact with the pack case PC, and the heat from the battery cells 110 can be discharged to the outside through a coolant. For example, the lower ends of the multiple battery cells 110 and the heat dissipation member 400 may come into contact with the base plate BP of the pack case PC with thermal resin interposed between them. In addition, a cooling channel H is formed in the base plate BP, and the cooling water that flows in through the inlet PI flows through the cooling channel and is then discharged to the outside from the outlet PO. At this time, the heat from the heat dissipation member 400 can be transferred quickly and smoothly to the base plate BP side of the pack case PC. According to such an embodiment, the energy density of the battery pack is improved and the heat transfer path is reduced, thereby further improving the temperature uniformity effect and cooling effect of the heat dissipation member 400.

[0180] A battery module or battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention may be applied to automobiles such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles. That is, an automobile according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a battery module or battery pack according to one embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, an automobile according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include various other components included in the automobile in addition to such a battery module or battery pack. For example, an automobile according to one embodiment of the present invention may further include, in addition to the battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle body, a motor, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or other control devices, etc.

[0181] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to limited embodiments and drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications and variations are possible within the equivalent scope of the technical concept and claims of the present invention for those skilled in the art. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0182] 100: Cell Assembly 110: Battery cell 111: Electrode terminal 120: Barrier 200: Module Case 210: Upper plate, 220: Lower plate, 230: Left side plate, 240: Right side plate, 250: Front plate, 260: Back plate 300: Cooling component 400: Heat dissipation component 410: Main body 411: First main body, 412: Second main body, 413: Third main body 420:Protrusion 420F: Front protrusion, 420R: Rear protrusion 420B: Outer protrusion, 420C: Inner protrusion 421: First protrusion, 422: Second protrusion, 423: Third protrusion H: Cooling channel N: Notch T: Thermal resin M: Battery Module PC: Pack Case BP: Base plate PI:Inlet PO: Outlet

Claims

1. A cell assembly comprising a plurality of battery cells, each provided with electrode terminals and stacked in at least one direction, A module case that houses the cell assembly in its internal space, A cooling member located on at least one side of the cell assembly, which dissipates heat through a coolant, A heat dissipation member is positioned opposite at least one battery cell, transfers heat from the battery cell to the cooling member, and is configured to partially protrude from the cooling member side. A battery module including this.

2. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member comprises a main body located on the side of the cooling member, and a protruding portion that protrudes from at least one side of the main body and has a narrower width than the main body.

3. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured to partially protrude from the high-temperature side of the opposing battery cell.

4. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured to protrude from the portion where the electrode terminals of the opposing battery cell are located.

5. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured such that the width of the protruding portion changes at least partially.

6. The battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured to protrude from two or more portions.

7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the heat dissipation members are configured to protrude from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

8. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured such that the heat dissipation performance of two or more protruding portions differs.

9. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the heat dissipation member comprises an outer projection and an inner projection arranged in the longitudinal direction of the battery cell.

10. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of heat dissipation members are provided and are configured to be arranged along the stacking direction of the battery cells.

11. The battery module according to claim 10, wherein at least some of the multiple heat dissipation members are configured to have different protruding shapes.

12. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member has a notch formed at the end on the side where the cooling member is located.

13. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured such that the separation distance from the opposing battery cells is partially different.

14. The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the heat dissipation member is configured in a form in which at least a portion of the protruding part is bent.

15. A battery pack comprising the battery module described in claim 1.

16. An automobile comprising the battery module described in claim 1.

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