Safety-enhanced battery modules and battery packs

Abstract

The present invention discloses a battery module capable of improving safety by appropriately controlling venting when a thermal event occurs inside the battery module.A battery module according to one aspect of the present invention includes a cell assembly having one or more battery cells, a module case that accommodates the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein to allow vent gas generated from the cell assembly to be discharged, and a vent unit that is disposed outside the module case and has a vent channel formed therein to allow the vent gas discharged from the vent hole to flow in and be discharged to the outside, the vent unit including a protrusion configured to have a shape protruding from an inside of the vent channel toward an outer surface of the module case.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0090554, filed on July 9, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery, and more particularly to a battery module and battery pack with enhanced safety, and a vehicle or the like including the same. [Background technology]

[0003] In recent years, as the demand for portable electronic products such as notebook computers, video cameras, and mobile phones has increased dramatically and the commercialization of robots, electric vehicles, and the like has progressed in earnest, active research has been conducted on high-performance secondary batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged.

[0004] Currently, commercially available secondary batteries include nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, nickel-zinc batteries, and lithium secondary batteries. Of these, lithium secondary batteries are in the spotlight for their advantages of being freely chargeable and dischargeable since they have almost no memory effect compared to nickel-based secondary batteries, as well as their extremely low self-discharge rate and high energy density.

[0005] This type of lithium secondary battery mainly uses a lithium-based oxide and a carbon material as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively, and includes an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate coated with such a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material are arranged with a separator sandwiched therebetween, and an exterior material that encloses the electrode assembly together with an electrolyte, i.e., a battery case.

[0006] In general, lithium secondary batteries are classified according to the shape of their exterior material into can-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is housed in a metal can and pouch-type secondary batteries in which an electrode assembly is housed in a pouch made of an aluminum laminate sheet.

[0007] Recently, secondary batteries are widely used for driving and storing energy not only in small devices such as portable electronic devices but also in medium- to large-sized devices such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (Energy Storage Systems, ESS). A battery module can be configured by electrically connecting a plurality of such secondary batteries and housing them together inside a module case. A battery pack can be configured by connecting a plurality of such battery modules.

[0008] However, when a battery pack includes multiple battery modules, it may be vulnerable to a thermal chain reaction between the battery modules. For example, if an event such as thermal runaway occurs in one of the battery modules, it is necessary to prevent the propagation of such a thermal runaway to other battery modules. If the propagation of thermal runaway between battery modules is not prevented, an event occurring in a specific battery module may cause a chain reaction among the multiple battery modules, which may cause or increase the scale of an explosion or fire.

[0009] In particular, if an event such as thermal runaway occurs in any one of the battery modules, there is a concern that gas, flames, etc. may be discharged to the outside. If the discharge of gas, flames, etc. cannot be appropriately controlled, the gas, flames, etc. may be discharged toward other battery modules, causing a thermal chain reaction in the other battery modules. Furthermore, when a thermal event occurs inside a battery module, factors that may cause ignition, such as sparks, electrode ejection, and charcoal, may be generated together with a large amount of flammable gas. In addition, if these factors that may cause ignition are discharged to the outside together with the gas discharge, they may come into contact with oxygen and cause a fire. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] Therefore, the present invention has been devised to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having an improved structure that appropriately controls the emission of gas, sparks, etc. when a thermal event occurs inside the battery module, thereby improving safety, and a battery pack and automobile including the same.

[0011] However, the technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the problems described above, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention described below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a battery module includes a cell assembly having one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; and a vent unit that is disposed on the outside of the module case and has a vent channel formed therein so that vent gas discharged from the vent hole can flow in and be discharged to the outside, the vent unit having a protrusion configured to have a shape protruding from an inside of the vent channel toward an outer surface of the module case.

[0013] Here, a number of the protrusions may be arranged along a flow direction of the vent gas.

[0014] The vent unit may further include a plate portion formed in a plate shape and having the protrusion located on its inner surface, and a peripheral portion protruding from a peripheral portion of the plate portion toward an outer surface of the module case and coupled to the outer surface of the module case.

[0015] Furthermore, the protrusion may be configured so that the width in the same direction as the flow direction of the vent gas is equal to or greater than the width in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas.

[0016] Furthermore, the vent unit may have an empty space formed inside the protrusion.

[0017] Furthermore, the vent unit may be formed so that an outer surface of a portion where the protrusion is formed has a shape recessed in a direction facing an outer surface of the module case.

[0018] Furthermore, the vent unit may have a protrusion or a groove formed on a surface of the protruding portion.

[0019] Furthermore, the vent unit may further include an adhesive member that includes an adhesive substance and is positioned on an inner surface of the vent channel.

[0020] Furthermore, the protrusion may be configured to have a shape that gradually widens as it progresses towards the inner end.

[0021] In order to achieve the above object, a battery pack according to another aspect of the present invention includes a battery module according to the present invention.

[0022] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack includes one or more battery modules, a pack housing that accommodates the one or more battery modules in an internal space and has a pack hole formed therein, and a vent unit that is attached to the pack housing and has a vent channel formed therein so that vent gas discharged from the pack hole can flow in and be discharged to the outside, the vent unit having a protrusion configured to have a shape protruding from an inside of the vent channel toward an outer surface of the pack housing.

[0023] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, according to yet another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle includes a battery module according to the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0024] According to the present invention, if a thermal event occurs inside a particular battery module or battery pack, gas and heat can be quickly vented to the outside, thereby preventing the occurrence and spread of a fire.

[0025] In particular, according to one aspect of the present invention, the exhaust path of the vent gas is formed in a non-linear manner, so that gas and heat can be quickly exhausted while preventing sparks, electrode ejection, charcoal, and the like, which have a strong tendency to travel in a straight line, from being exhausted outside the module.

[0026] Therefore, in this case, by preventing substances such as sparks and electrode ejection material, which could cause ignition, from coming into contact with oxygen outside the battery module, it is possible to prevent a fire from breaking out outside the battery module.

[0027] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, even if a flame occurs inside a battery module, the flame can be prevented from being discharged outside the battery module, thereby preventing the thermal event from spreading to other battery modules.

[0028] Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to achieve the effect of controlling the vent of the battery module with a simple structure and preventing the propagation of heat / flame between the battery modules.

[0029] In addition to these, the present invention can achieve various other effects, which will be described in each embodiment, and descriptions of effects that can be easily inferred by a person skilled in the art will be omitted.

[0030] The following drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the invention described below, serve to further understand the technical ideas of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited only to the matters depicted in such drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a battery module in an assembled state according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of some of the components in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a vent unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional configuration of the vent unit of FIG. 3 attached to a module case, as viewed from the front. FIG. [Diagram 5] 10 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of a portion where a protrusion is formed in the vent unit according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration in which the vent unit in FIG. 7 is attached to a module case, as viewed from above. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a top cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a protrusion according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit including the shape of a protrusion according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 11 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along line B1-B1' of the vent unit of FIG. 10 coupled to a module case, as viewed from above. [Figure 12]13 is a top cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion in which a vent unit is coupled to a module case according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 13] 13 is a top cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion in which a vent unit is coupled to a module case according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] 13 is a top cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion in which a vent unit is coupled to a module case according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 15] 13A to 13C are perspective views each showing a schematic configuration of a vent unit according to still other various embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 16] 13A to 13C are perspective views each showing a schematic configuration of a vent unit according to still other various embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 13 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 19] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from above; [Figure 20] FIG. 13 is a top view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in the specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as having meanings and concepts that correspond to the technical ideas of the present invention, in accordance with the principle that the inventor himself can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe the invention.

[0033] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiment of the present invention and do not represent the entire technical idea of ​​the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor at the time of this application.

[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of some of the components in FIG.

[0035] 1 and 2, a battery module according to the present invention includes a cell assembly 100, a module case 200, and a vent unit 300.

[0036] The cell assembly 100 may include one or more battery cells. Here, each battery cell may refer to a secondary battery. The secondary battery may include an electrode assembly, an electrolyte, and a battery case. In particular, the battery cell arranged in the cell assembly 100 may be a pouch-type secondary battery. However, other types of secondary batteries, such as cylindrical batteries and prismatic batteries, may also be adopted in the cell assembly 100 of the present invention.

[0037] A plurality of secondary batteries may be stacked on one another to form a cell assembly 100. For example, a plurality of secondary batteries may be stacked in a horizontal direction (X-axis direction in the figure) with each battery cell standing vertically (Z-axis direction in the figure). Each battery cell may have an electrode lead, and such an electrode lead may be located at both ends or at one end of each battery cell. A secondary battery with electrode leads protruding in both directions may be called a bidirectional cell, and a secondary battery with electrode leads protruding in one direction may be called a unidirectional cell. The present invention is not limited in any way by the detailed type or form (shape, type) of such secondary batteries, and various types of secondary batteries that are already known at the time of filing the present invention may be adopted in the cell assembly 100 of the present invention.

[0038] The module case 200 may be configured to have an empty space formed therein and to accommodate the cell assembly 100 in the internal space. For example, the module case 200 may be configured to include a top plate, a bottom plate, a left plate, a right plate, a front plate, and a rear plate to define the internal space. Here, at least two of the top plate, the bottom plate, the left plate, the right plate, the front plate, and the rear plate may be configured to be integrated. More specifically, the module case 200 may be configured to be a monoframe having a tubular shape with the top plate, the bottom plate, the left plate, and the right plate integrally formed. In addition, the front plate and the rear plate may be configured to be coupled to the openings at the front and rear ends of the monoframe to seal them.

[0039] The module case 200 may have a vent hole formed on at least one side, as indicated by H1 in FIG. 2. For example, the left and right plates of the module case 200 may have a vent hole H1 formed thereon. Such a vent hole H1 may be configured so that when vent gas is generated and ejected from the cell assembly 100 housed in the internal space, the generated vent gas can be discharged to the external space of the module case 200. For example, the vent hole H1 may be formed in a completely open shape so as to penetrate the module case 200 in the direction from inside to outside. However, the vent hole H1 may not be completely opened, but may be closed in a normal state and may be configured in a shape that can be opened in response to changes in pressure, temperature, and the like. Furthermore, the vent hole H1 may be formed in a shape that extends elongated in one direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the vent hole H1 may be formed in a shape that extends elongated in the vertical direction. The vent hole H1 may be formed on the side surfaces of the module case 200, particularly on the left and right sides. However, such vent hole H1 may be formed in other parts of module case 200, i.e., the top surface, bottom surface, front surface, and / or rear surface. In addition to this shape, vent hole H1 formed in module case 200 may be configured in a wide variety of other shapes.

[0040] The vent unit 300 may be disposed outside the module case 200. In particular, the vent unit 300 may be attached to a portion of the module case 200 where the vent hole H1 is formed. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when the vent hole H1 is formed on the left and right sides of the module case 200, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the outside of each of the left and right sides of the module case 200.

[0041] 2, a vent channel may be formed in the vent unit 300. Such a vent channel V may be configured so that the vent gas discharged from the vent hole H1 of the module case 200 flows into the vent channel V and is discharged to the outside.

[0042] The configuration of such a vent unit 300 will be described in more detail with further reference to FIGS.

[0043] Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a vent unit 300 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing a cross-sectional configuration of the vent unit 300 of Fig. 3 attached to the module case 200, viewed from the front. For example, the vent unit 300 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is a view showing the vent unit 300 located on the left side of the module case 200, out of the two vent units 300 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with emphasis on the vent unit 300.

[0044] 1 to 4, the vent unit 300 may have a vent channel V formed therein such that the vent gas discharged from the vent hole H1 flows in and is discharged to the outside. In particular, the vent unit 300 may have a protrusion 310 inside the vent channel V. The protrusion 310 may be configured to protrude from the inside of the vent channel V toward the outer surface of the module case 200. For example, focusing on the configuration shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the vent unit 300 attached to the left side of the module case 200, the protrusion 310 may be provided on the right surface, which can be considered as the inner surface, and the protrusion 310 may be formed to protrude in the right direction.

[0045] According to such a configuration of the present invention, the protrusion 310 allows the vent gas to flow in a bent shape. That is, when the vent gas flows from the vent hole H1 of the module case 200 into the inside of the vent channel V of the vent unit 300, the vent gas flows inside the vent channel V and can be discharged to the outside through the outlet Vo of the vent channel V. At this time, when the vent gas flows in the internal space of the vent channel V, it collides with the protrusion 310, and as a result, it cannot flow only in a straight direction, and the flow direction can be bent at a predetermined portion. Therefore, when the vent gas flows inside the vent channel V, it can flow in a shape that is bent at least once as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3. In other words, the vent unit 300 is configured so that the protrusion 310 allows the vent gas to flow non-linearly.

[0046] According to this aspect of the present invention, the flow direction of the vent gas is formed in a non-linear manner, so that it is possible to effectively prevent highly linear sparks, electrode discharge, carbides, etc. from being discharged together with the vent gas to the outside of the vent unit 300. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to prevent the problem that high-temperature sparks, electrode discharge, carbides, etc. come into contact with oxygen outside the vent unit 300 and may act as an ignition source.

[0047] Meanwhile, in this specification, the distinction between the inside and the outside means, unless otherwise specified, the inside means the part facing the center of the battery module, and the outside means the opposite direction. For example, the inside direction of the vent unit 300 may mean the direction facing the module case 200.

[0048] The protrusion 310 may be configured to contact the outer surface of the module case 200. For example, referring to the matter shown in FIG. 4, in the case of the vent unit 300 attached to the left side of the module case 200, the right end of the protrusion 310 may be configured to contact the surface of the left side of the module case 200.

[0049] According to such a configuration of the present invention, no empty space can be formed between the protrusions 310 and the module case 200. Therefore, the empty space through which the vent gas flows inside the vent channel V can be limited to between the protrusions 310, as shown by V1 in Fig. 4. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to more easily and reliably achieve a configuration in which the flow direction of the vent gas inside the vent channel V is non-linear, i.e., bent.

[0050] The protrusions 310 may be arranged in a number along the flow direction of the vent gas. Here, the flow direction of the vent gas may be a direction from the vent hole H1 toward the exhaust port Vo of the vent unit 300. For example, referring to the matter shown in FIG. 3, the flow direction of the vent gas may be a -X-axis direction. In this case, a number of protrusions 310 may be provided on the right surface of the left vent unit 300, and in particular, a number of protrusions 310 may be arranged in the -X-axis direction. Furthermore, the number of protrusions 310 arranged along the flow direction of the vent gas may be configured to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In addition, the vent gas can flow due to such a space. In addition, the number of protrusions 310 may be arranged alternately along the flow direction of the vent gas. For example, in the case of the vent unit 300 coupled to the left and right sides of the module case 200, a number of protrusions 310 are arranged in the front-rear direction, and adjacent protrusions 310 may be configured to be located at different heights.

[0051] According to this embodiment of the present invention, a configuration in which a large number of protrusions 310 are arranged along the flow direction of the vent gas, making it easier to realize a configuration in which the flow direction of the vent gas is bent several times.

[0052] Also, the protrusions 310 may be arranged in a number of ways along a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas. For example, referring to the matters shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas may be the vertical direction (Z-axis direction). In this case, the inside of the vent channel V of the vent unit 300 may be configured to have a number of protrusions 310 arranged in the vertical direction.

[0053] With this embodiment, it is also easier to achieve a non-linear flow of vent gas.

[0054] Furthermore, the vent unit 300 may further include a plate portion 301 and a peripheral portion 302 as shown in FIGS.

[0055] The plate portion 301 may be formed in a plate shape and configured to have a shape in which the protrusion portion 310 is located on the inner surface. For example, referring to the configuration of the left vent unit 300 shown in Fig. 3, the plate portion 301 may be formed in a plate shape standing in the vertical direction, and the protrusion portion 310 may be located on the right surface (surface in the -Y axis direction) of the plate portion 301.

[0056] The peripheral portion 302 may be configured to protrude from the peripheral portion of the plate portion 301 toward the outer surface of the module case 200 and be coupled to the outer surface of the module case 200. For example, referring to the configuration of the left vent unit 300 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the peripheral portion 302 may protrude from the upper end (end in the +Z-axis direction), the lower end (end in the -Z-axis direction), and the front end (end in the +X-axis direction) of the plate portion 301 toward the right side and be coupled to the left surface of the module case 200. In this case, the peripheral portion 302 and the module case 200 may be coupled to each other by a welding method. However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such a coupling form, and they may be coupled to each other by various other methods such as bolting or adhesion.

[0057] According to the above-mentioned configuration of the present invention, the structure and shape of the vent unit 300 are simple, so that the vent unit 300 can be manufactured and assembled very easily. In particular, as shown in the configurations of Figs. 3 and 4, the vent unit 300 is configured so that one side of the vent channel V, i.e., the right surface, is completely open, and the entire open portion can function as the inlet Vi of the vent channel V. Therefore, the position of the vent hole H1 in the module case 200 can be not greatly restricted. That is, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, since the inlet Vi of the vent channel V is formed very large, it is not necessary to make a great effort to accurately align the inlet Vi of the vent unit 300 with the vent hole H1 in the surface of the module case 200.

[0058] Moreover, according to the embodiment, the process of providing the protrusion 310 in the internal space of the vent channel V can be achieved very easily. In particular, in the embodiment, the protrusion 310 is completely exposed to the outside before the vent unit 300 is attached to the module case 200. Therefore, since the protrusion 310 can be formed through such an exposed side surface, a manufacturing and design process for providing the protrusion 310 in various shapes and layouts inside the vent channel V can be smoothly performed.

[0059] Also, according to the embodiment, a configuration in which a vent device is provided for a battery module can be realized very easily by simply attaching the vent unit 300 having a simple structure to the side portion of the module case 200 in which the vent hole H1 is formed. Therefore, in this case, if the module case 200 has the vent hole H1 formed therein, the battery module according to the present invention can be easily realized without changing the configuration or design of the module case 200.

[0060] On the other hand, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the peripheral portion 302 may not be formed on a part of the peripheral portion of the plate portion 301, or the protruding height of the peripheral portion 302 may be small. For example, referring to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, at least one of the four corners of the plate portion 301 having a square shape, that is, the corner on the rear end side, may not be formed with the peripheral portion 302. Furthermore, the remaining three corners of the four corners of such a plate portion 301 may be formed with the peripheral portion 302. In this case, the corner on the rear end side of the square plate portion 301 can function as an outlet of the vent channel V, as shown by Vo. In such a configuration of the vent unit 300, it can be said that the left side surface, upper surface, lower surface, and front end surface of the vent channel V are closed, the right side surface is open to function as an inlet Vi, and the rear end surface is open to function as an outlet Vo.

[0061] The protrusion 310 may be configured such that the width in the same direction as the flow direction of the vent gas is equal to or larger than the width in the direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0062] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of a portion where protrusion 310 is formed in vent unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] 5, when vent unit 300 is viewed from the side of module case 200, protrusion 310 may be configured to have a shape of a figure having a certain area, such as a square shape. In particular, when protrusion 310 has a width W1 in the front-rear direction that is the same as the flow direction of vent gas (X-axis direction) and a width W2 in the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) perpendicular to the flow direction of vent gas inside vent channel V, W1 and W2 may be configured to have the following size relationship:

[0064] W1 ≥ W2

[0065] That is, the protrusion 310 may be configured such that the width in the direction of the vent gas flow is equal to or greater than the width in the direction perpendicular to the vent gas flow.

[0066] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion 310 can stably maintain its shape without being distorted, even when the vent gas is subjected to high pressure. That is, when the vent gas flows inside the vent channel V, a high pressure may be momentarily applied to the protrusion 310. According to this embodiment, even if a large force is applied due to the gas pressure, the protrusion 310 can stably maintain its shape and continue to function to form the flow direction of the vent gas in a non-linear manner.

[0067] Also, according to the above embodiment, the contact area between the end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 can be increased. Therefore, it is possible to prevent sparks, discharged material, etc. from easily leaking into the gap between the end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200. In this case, heat is more smoothly transferred from the module case 200 to the outside of the vent unit 300 via the protrusion 310, so that the cooling ability of the battery module by the protrusion 310 can be increased.

[0068] Furthermore, the vent unit 300 may be configured in such a way that an adhesive is interposed between the end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200. In this case, when the contact area between the end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 is formed to be large as in the above embodiment, such an adhesive interposition configuration can be more easily realized.

[0069] In this embodiment, in which an adhesive is interposed between the end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200, the connection between the vent unit 300 and the module case 200 is further improved. Furthermore, in this case, the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 can be fixed by simply contacting the vent unit 300 with the surface of the module case 200 with the adhesive applied or attached to the end of the protrusion 310. Therefore, when the peripheral portion 302 is joined to the module case 200 by a method such as welding, the vent unit 300 does not move, so that the welding process can be performed more smoothly. In addition, according to the embodiment, the adhesive interposed between the end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 can more reliably prevent sparks, discharged material, etc. from leaking into the space between the gap.

[0070] Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 5, the protrusion 310 may be formed in a quadrangular prism shape that is a roughly square shape when viewed from the front, but various other shapes are possible. For example, the protrusion 310 may have a circular, elliptical, or other polygonal shape when viewed from the front. That is, the protrusion 310 may be formed in a cylindrical, elliptical, or polygonal prism shape. Furthermore, when formed in a polygonal prism shape, the corners and apex may be rounded.

[0071] The vent unit 300 may be configured to have an empty space formed inside the protrusion 310. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0072] Fig. 6 is a diagram that shows a schematic configuration of a portion of the vent unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Fig. 6 can be said to be a diagram that shows a schematic configuration of a cross section when looking down from above the protrusion 310 provided in the vent unit 300. Regarding various embodiments included in this specification, including this embodiment, detailed descriptions of other embodiments will be omitted if they are equally or similarly applicable, and the description will focus on the differences.

[0073] 6, the protrusion 310 is formed in a shape protruding from the vent unit 300 toward the module case 200, but may have an empty space formed therein, as shown by E1. Note that air or the like may exist in such an empty space.

[0074] According to such a configuration of the present invention, a heat insulating layer is formed by the empty space E1 inside the protruding portion 310, and the transfer of heat via the protruding portion 310 can be reduced.

[0075] In particular, in such an embodiment, the protrusion 310 may have a hole formed therein so as to be able to communicate with the internal space E1. For example, referring to the embodiment of Fig. 6, a hole may be formed on at least one side of the protrusion 310 as shown by H2. In this case, the protrusion 310 generally defines the internal space E1, but such internal space E1 may be communicated with the vent channel V via the inflow hole H2.

[0076] In particular, the inlet hole H2 of the protruding portion 310 may be formed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the vent gas flows. For example, in the configuration shown in Fig. 6, when the vent gas flows from the front end side to the rear end side of the vent unit 300 (in the -X axis direction) as shown by the arrow A1, the inlet hole H2 of the protruding portion 310 may be formed on the surface on the front end side.

[0077] According to such a configuration of the present invention, the effect of preventing the discharge of sparks, electrode discharge, carbide, etc. by the protrusion 310 can be further increased. For example, as shown by the arrow A1 in Fig. 6, when sparks, electrode discharge, etc. move together with the vent gas, the sparks, electrode discharge, etc., which have a strong linearity, can flow into the internal space E1 of the protrusion 310 through the inflow hole H2. Note that the sparks, electrode discharge, etc., which flow into the internal space E1 of the protrusion 310 in this manner can be prevented from being discharged to the outside of the vent unit 300 together with the vent gas by being held in the internal space E1.

[0078] Fig. 7 is a diagram that shows a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of vent unit 300 of Fig. 7 attached to module case 200, as viewed from above. In particular, Fig. 8 can be said to be a modified example of the configuration of Fig. 6. This embodiment will also be described with an emphasis on the differences from the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0079] 7 and 8, the vent unit 300 may be formed in a shape in which the outer surface of the portion where the protrusion 310 is formed is recessed toward the outer surface of the module case 200, as shown by the portion G1. That is, the protrusion 310 may be formed in a convex shape toward the outer surface of the module case 200 when the inner surface of the vent unit 300 is used as a reference, but may be formed in a shape recessed toward the outer surface of the module case 200 when the outer surface of the vent unit 300 is used as a reference. Furthermore, since the recess G1 of the vent unit 300 can be formed by the protrusion 310 of the vent unit 300, it can have a shape corresponding to the protrusion 310 of the vent unit 300. For example, the protrusion 310 may be formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and thus the recess G1 formed on the outer surface of the vent unit 300 may also be formed in a substantially rectangular shape.

[0080] According to this configuration of the present invention, it is possible to easily realize a configuration in which the protrusion 310 is formed on the vent unit 300. For example, the vent unit 300 may be formed in a generally plate-like shape, and the protrusion 310 may be formed by pressing a number of portions inward at the center. Also, according to this configuration of the present invention, the outer surface area of ​​the vent unit 300 can be increased. Therefore, the cooling ability of the vent gas and high-temperature gas discharged from the inside of the module case 200 and flowing through the vent channel V is further improved. In addition, according to the above embodiment, the heat dissipation ability of the heat transferred from the module case 200 to the vent unit 300 side is further improved. In particular, when a cooling flow path for cooling the battery module is located outside the vent unit 300, the cooling or heat dissipation efficiency according to this embodiment of the present invention can be further increased.

[0081] The vent unit 300 may be configured to have a shape in which protrusions or grooves are formed on the surface of the protruding portion 310. This will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 9 to 11.

[0082] Fig. 9 is a top cross-sectional view that shows a schematic configuration of a protrusion 310 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, Fig. 9 can be said to be yet another modified example of the configuration of Fig. 6. This embodiment will also be described by focusing on the differences from the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0083] 9, the protrusion 310 of the vent unit 300 may have a groove formed on a side surface facing the vent gas, as indicated by G2. That is, as indicated by an arrow A2 in FIG. 9, when the vent gas flows from the front end to the rear end of the vent unit 300, the groove G2 may be formed on the front surface of the protrusion 310. That is, the groove G2 of the protrusion 310 may be formed on the surface facing the vent gas, in other words, on the surface facing the vent hole H1.

[0084] According to this configuration of the present invention, the flow of the vent gas can be disturbed or the flow direction can be changed by the groove G2 formed in the protrusion 310. In addition, according to the above embodiment, particles such as sparks and electrode ejection products can be collected in the groove G2 formed in the protrusion 310. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the effect of preventing sparks, ejection products, etc. from leaking out of the vent channel V is further improved.

[0085] 10 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a portion of vent unit 300 including the shape of protrusion 310 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, FIG. 11 is a view showing the cross-sectional shape taken along line B1-B1' as viewed from above, with vent unit 300 of FIG. 10 being coupled to module case 200. This embodiment will also be described with an emphasis on the differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0086] 10 and 11, a groove may be formed on the inner end surface of the protrusion 310, i.e., the surface of the end of the protrusion 310 facing the module case 200, as shown by G3. Furthermore, such groove G3 can form a certain space between the end of the protrusion 310 and the outer surface of the module case 200. In particular, the opening of such groove G3 may be formed on the side of the protrusion 310 facing the vent gas. That is, in the configuration of FIGS. 10 and 11, when the vent gas flows from the front end to the rear end as shown by the arrow A3, the groove G3 of the protrusion 310 may be formed so as to extend from the front end side to the rear by a predetermined length on the inner end surface of the protrusion 310 that directly collides with the vent gas. However, such groove G3 of the protrusion 310 may be configured to stop at a predetermined portion without extending to the rear end of the protrusion 310 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. That is, groove G3 formed at the end of protrusion 310 may be recessed to a predetermined point, rather than penetrating protrusion 310. Furthermore, groove G3 of such protrusion 310 may be bent at its rear end in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas, that is, in the upward direction (+Z axis direction) or the downward direction (-Z axis direction).

[0087] According to this configuration of the present invention, groove G3 formed on the inner end face of protrusion 310 can more effectively prevent sparks, ejected material, and the like moving with the vent gas from being collected and discharged to the outside of vent channel V. In particular, according to the above embodiment, the effect of collecting sparks, ejected material, and the like that have flowed into the gap between the inner end face of protrusion 310 and module case 200 in groove G3 is improved.

[0088] Also, the vent unit 300 may further include a pore member 320 as shown in FIG. 9. The pore member 320 may be configured to have a shape in which a number of pores are held inside. In particular, these internal pores may be configured to communicate with the outside. That is, the pores held in the pore member 320 can be said to be empty spaces filled only with gas, but these pores may be configured to be freely connected to the outside, rather than being sealed. For example, the pore member 320 may be configured to have a shape in which a number of wires, particularly a number of wires made of a material such as metal or polymer, are entangled with each other. In particular, the pore member 320 may be configured to have a shape inserted into the groove G2 of the protruding portion 310.

[0089] According to this configuration of the present invention, sparks, ejected material, etc. that come into contact with the surface of the protrusion 310 or flow into the groove G2 of the protrusion 310 are collected by the porous member 320, and are more effectively prevented from being discharged to the outside of the vent channel V.

[0090] Although not shown, protrusions may be formed on the surface of protruding portion 310. In particular, such protrusions may be formed in a shape that obstructs the flow direction of vent gas flowing on the surface of protruding portion 310. For example, the protrusions may be configured to generate turbulence or vortexes in the flow of vent gas flowing along the surface of protruding portion 310. In this case, it is possible to further suppress the discharge of sparks, ejected material, and the like to the outside.

[0091] 12 is a top cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit 300 according to still another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a module case 200. This embodiment will also be described by focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0092] 12, the vent unit 300 may further include an adhesive member 330. The adhesive member 330 may be made of an adhesive material and may be located on the inner surface of the vent channel V. Here, the adhesive member 330 may be made of only an adhesive material, or may be configured in the form of an adhesive tape in which an adhesive material is provided on the surface of a substrate.

[0093] In particular, the adhesive member 330 may be configured to be located on a side surface of the protruding portion 310 that faces the vent gas. For example, when the vent gas flows from the front end to the rear end as indicated by the arrow A4, the adhesive member 330 may be attached to the surface on the front end side of the protruding portion 310 so as to face the vent gas. In this case, the direction of the surface of the adhesive member 330 may be perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas. Here, the adhesive property of the adhesive member 330 may be continuously exhibited in a normal state, or may be exhibited only in a high temperature state, such as a situation in which the vent gas flows.

[0094] According to this embodiment of the present invention, fine particles contained in the vent gas, i.e., sparks and discharged material, can be more effectively collected due to the adhesive property of the adhesive member 330. Therefore, in this case, the effect of suppressing the discharge of sparks and discharged material to the outside of the vent channel V is further improved.

[0095] Meanwhile, in the embodiment configuration of FIG. 12, the adhesive member 330 has been described based on a configuration in which the adhesive member 330 is formed on the surface of the protrusion 310 facing the vent hole, for example, on the surface of the front end side of the protrusion 310. However, the adhesive member 330 may be formed on the other side surface of the protrusion 310, i.e., on the surface of the upper side and / or the surface of the lower side of the protrusion 310.

[0096] 13 is a top cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit 300 according to still another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a module case 200. This embodiment will also be described by focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0097] 13, in the vent unit 300, the protrusion 310 may be configured to have a shape in which the width gradually increases as it progresses toward the inner end. That is, as shown in FIG 13, when the width of the outer end of the protrusion 310 is W3 and the width of the inner end of the protrusion 310 is W4, W4 may be configured to be larger than W3. That is, the protrusion 310 may be configured to have a width gradually increasing as it progresses from the outer side to the inner side.

[0098] According to this embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the protrusion 310 from being distorted, even when the vent gas flows, because the contact area between the inner end of the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 is large in this embodiment, the end of the protrusion 310 is more stably supported by the surface of the module case 200 and is not distorted even when the vent gas flows. For example, as shown by arrow A5, when the vent gas flows, the protrusion 310 may receive a force in the direction of A5, but since the inner end of the protrusion 310 is in contact with the outer surface of the module case 200 over a large surface area, the protrusion 310 does not easily bend in the direction of A5. Therefore, in this case, the configuration of controlling the vent by the protrusion 310 of the vent unit 300 is maintained.

[0099] 14 is a top cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a portion of a vent unit 300 according to still another embodiment of the present invention coupled to a module case 200. This embodiment will also be described by focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0100] 14, the protrusion 310 of the vent unit 300 may be configured to be generally plate-shaped, unlike the various embodiments described above. In this case, at least one of the two wide surfaces of the plate-shaped protrusion 310 may be configured to face the flow direction of the vent gas. For example, as shown by the arrow A6 in FIG. 14, when the vent gas flows from the front to the rear of the battery module, one surface of the protrusion 310 may be configured to face the front direction and the other surface may be configured to face the rear direction.

[0101] In addition, the protrusion 310 may be configured so that the end facing the outer surface of the module case 200 extends in a direction opposite to the flow direction of the vent gas, i.e., in a direction facing the vent hole H1, as shown by F in FIG. 14.

[0102] According to this configuration of the present invention, when the vent unit 300 is coupled to the module case 200 and vent gas flows inside the vent unit 300, the protrusion 310 can be stably brought into contact with the surface of the module case 200 without being pushed backward despite the high pressure of the vent gas. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the contact area between the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 is increased, so that the bonding and heat transfer between the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 are further improved. In particular, in this case, a configuration in which an adhesive is interposed between the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 to further increase the bonding strength between the protrusion 310 and the module case 200 can be more easily realized.

[0103] 15 and 16 are perspective views that show a schematic configuration of a vent unit 300 according to still other various embodiments of the present invention. This embodiment will also be described by focusing on differences from the above-described embodiments.

[0104] First, referring to FIG. 15, each of the multiple protrusions 310 may be configured in a plate shape. That is, in the various embodiments described above, the protrusions 310 have been described with emphasis on a configuration of the protrusions 310 having a three-dimensional shape such as a square shape when the vent unit 300 is viewed from the module case 200 side, but the protrusions 310 may be configured in a shape having a straight line. In particular, such a protrusion 310 may be configured in a shape in which some corners are fixed to the plate portion 301 and the peripheral portion 302, and the remaining other corners are not fixed in the vent unit 300. In this manner, at least some of the other corners of the protrusion 310 that are not fixed in the vent unit 300 may be configured to contact the surface of the module case 200 when the vent unit 300 is coupled to the module case 200. Furthermore, the plate-shaped protrusion 310 may be configured in a shape inclined by a predetermined angle from the direction of the peripheral portion 302, as shown in FIG. 15. According to such a configuration of the present invention, it is possible to ensure the effect of suppressing the emission of sparks and ejected material with a relatively simple structure.

[0105] Also, referring to FIG. 16, the protrusion 310 is configured in a plate shape, but may be configured in a shape in which a predetermined portion is bent. That is, when the open inlet side of the vent unit 300 is viewed from the module case 200 side, the protrusion 310 may be configured in a shape having a bent straight line. Furthermore, such bent straight protrusions 310 may be arranged in a number of shapes spaced apart by a predetermined distance along the flow direction of the vent gas, that is, the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) of the module case 200. Also, such bent straight protrusions 310 may be arranged in a number of shapes spaced apart by a predetermined distance along a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas, that is, the up-down direction (Z-axis direction) of the module case 200. According to such a configuration of the present invention, the bent shape of the protrusion 310 is used to further improve the effect of collecting sparks, discharged material, etc. contained in the vent gas.

[0106] 17 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention, which will also be described by focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0107] 17, the vent unit 300 may be coupled to the upper part of the module case 200. At this time, a protrusion 310 may be provided on the inner surface of the vent unit 300. In particular, when the vent hole H1 is located on the upper surface of the module case 200, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the upper part of the module case 200 to correspond to the position of the vent hole H1. Furthermore, when the vent holes H1 are formed on the left and right sides of the upper surface of the module case 200, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the left and right sides of the upper part of the module case 200, as shown in FIG. 17. At this time, when the vent gas is discharged from the vent hole H1, the vent gas may be discharged as shown by the arrow in FIG. 17.

[0108] 18 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention, which will also be described by focusing on differences from the above-described embodiment.

[0109] 18, two vent units 300 are respectively coupled to the left and right sides of the upper surface of the module case 200, and the vent directions of the vent units 300 may be configured to be opposite to each other. That is, the vent direction of the vent unit 300 arranged on the left side of the upper surface of the module case 200 may be configured to face backward, and the vent direction of the vent unit 300 arranged on the right side of the upper surface of the module case 200 may be configured to face forward.

[0110] According to this embodiment of the present invention, the vent directions of the multiple vent units 300 are different, so that the vent gas can be dispersed and prevented from concentrating in a specific area. Therefore, in this case, overheating of a specific area due to the concentration of the vent gas can be prevented.

[0111] 19 is a schematic diagram showing a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from above. In this embodiment, detailed descriptions of parts that are the same or similar to those described in the various embodiments above will be omitted.

[0112] 19, a battery pack according to the present invention may include one or more battery modules M according to the present invention. In particular, in order to increase capacity and / or output, a battery pack according to the present invention may include a plurality of battery modules M according to the present invention. In this case, the various components described above can be applied to each battery module M. For example, each battery module M includes a cell assembly 100, a module case 200, and a vent unit 300. In addition, such a plurality of battery modules M may be accommodated inside a pack housing PH.

[0113] In the case of the battery pack according to the present invention, even if a thermal event occurs in a specific battery module, safety can be ensured to a certain level or more. In particular, in the case of the battery module M included in the battery pack according to the present invention, the vent unit 300 is included, and the vent gas can be discharged as shown by the arrow using the vent unit 300. Therefore, by minimizing the inclusion of ignition factors such as sparks, electrode ejection, and charcoal in the vent gas discharged to the outside, it is possible to prevent ignition not only around the battery module M but also in other battery modules M.

[0114] Furthermore, in the case of the battery pack according to the present invention, since the vent direction can be controlled using the vent unit 300 included in each battery module, it is possible to prevent the vent gas from being directly sprayed toward other battery modules. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, when a plurality of battery modules M are arranged in two rows, a left row and a right row, in the pack housing, the spray direction of the vent unit 300 for the battery module M in the left row may be set to face left, and the spray direction of the vent unit 300 for the battery module M in the right row may be set to face right. In this case, when the vent gas is discharged from a specific battery module, i.e., M4, the vent gas is prevented from being directed toward other battery modules, so that it is possible to more effectively prevent a thermal event from spreading to other battery modules due to the vent gas.

[0115] In addition, although not shown, the battery pack according to the present invention may further include various other components, in addition to the battery module M and pack housing PH, such as a battery management system (BMS), bus bars, relays, current sensors, and other battery pack components known at the time of filing of the present invention.

[0116] Meanwhile, in the various embodiments described above, the vent unit 300 applied to the battery module can also be applied to a battery pack, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

[0117] Fig. 20 is a top view of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention. For example, Fig. 20 shows the internal configuration of the battery pack according to the present invention with the upper side of the pack housing PH removed. This embodiment will also be described with an emphasis on the differences from the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0118] 20, a hole, as indicated by H3, may be formed on at least one side of the pack housing PH in which a plurality of battery modules M are accommodated. Such a pack hole H3 may be formed in a shape that allows the internal space of the pack housing PH to communicate with the external space. In particular, the pack hole H3 may function as a passage through which gas or the like present in the internal space of the pack housing PH is discharged to the outside.

[0119] In such a configuration, the pack housing PH may be fitted with the vent unit 300 according to the present invention described above. In particular, as shown in Fig. 20, when the pack housing PH is formed with a pack hole H3, the vent unit 300 may be attached to the portion of the outside of the pack housing PH where the pack hole H3 is formed.

[0120] That is, the battery pack according to this embodiment of the present invention can be said to include one or more battery modules M, a pack housing PH that accommodates the one or more battery modules M in its internal space and has a pack hole H3 formed therein, and a vent unit 300 that is attached to the pack housing PH and has a vent channel V formed therein so that vent gas discharged from the pack hole H3 can flow in and be discharged to the outside, and has a protrusion 310 configured to protrude from the inside of the vent channel V toward the outer surface of the pack housing PH.

[0121] In this case, vent gas generated from any battery module M may pass through pack hole H3 and flow into vent unit 300 located outside the pack housing PH, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 20. Then, as described above, vent unit 300 can suppress the discharge of sparks, electrode ejection products, charcoal, and the like to the outside.

[0122] In such an embodiment, in an embodiment in which the vent unit 300 is mounted to the pack housing PH, various embodiments of the vent unit 300 described above as being mounted to the module case 200 can be applied to the vent unit 300 in the same or similar manner.

[0123] Meanwhile, as shown in Fig. 20, each battery module M may not include the vent unit 300. However, it goes without saying that the vent unit 300 may also be separately attached to each battery module M as shown in Fig. 19.

[0124] 20, the cell assemblies 100 are accommodated in the module case 200 and arranged in the pack housing PH in a modularized form. However, in the case of a battery pack according to another embodiment of the present invention, the cell assemblies 100 may be directly attached to the pack housing PH in a cell-to-pack form without being accommodated in the module case 200. In this case, the battery module M described above may include only the cell assemblies 100 without including the module case 200. Meanwhile, a control device such as a battery management system (BMS) and electrical components such as a relay and a current sensor may be accommodated together in the internal space of the pack housing PH.

[0125] The battery module according to the present invention or the battery pack according to the present invention is applicable to automobiles such as electric automobiles and hybrid automobiles. That is, the automobile according to the present invention may include the battery module according to the present invention or the battery pack according to the present invention. Furthermore, the automobile according to 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, the automobile according to the present invention may further include a vehicle body, a motor, a control device such as an electronic control unit (ECU), and the like, in addition to the battery module according to the present invention.

[0126] Meanwhile, in this specification, directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used, but these terms are used merely for ease of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that they may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0127] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the technical concept of the present invention is in no way limited thereto, and it goes without saying that a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can make various modifications and variations within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 100 Cell Assembly 200 module case 300 Vent Unit 301 Plate section, 302 Periphery 310 Protrusion 320 Porous Materials 330 Adhesive Materials V-Vent Channel Vi inlet Vo outlet H1 Vent hole H2 inflow hole M Battery Module PH Pack Housing H3 Pack Hole

Claims

1. a cell assembly comprising one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit disposed outside the module case and having a vent channel formed therein so that vent gas discharged from the vent hole can flow therein and be discharged to the outside, the vent unit including a protrusion configured to have a shape protruding from an inside of the vent channel toward an outer surface of the module case; Including, the vent unit further comprises: a plate portion formed in a plate shape, the protrusion being located on an inner surface thereof; and a peripheral portion protruding from a peripheral portion of the plate portion toward one side of an outer surface of the module case and coupled to that side of the module case.

2. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein a number of the protrusions are arranged along a flow direction of the vent gas.

3. The battery module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion is configured so that a width in a direction the same as the flow direction of the vent gas is equal to or larger than a width in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction of the vent gas.

4. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the vent unit has an empty space formed inside the protrusion.

5. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the vent unit is formed so that an outer surface of a portion where the protrusion is formed has a shape recessed in a direction facing an outer surface of the module case.

6. The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the vent unit has a protrusion or a groove formed on a surface of the protruding portion.

7. The battery module of claim 1 , wherein the vent unit further comprises an adhesive member including an adhesive material and positioned on an inner surface of the vent channel.

8. The battery module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the protrusion is configured to have a shape that gradually becomes wider as it progresses toward an inner end.

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

10. one or more battery modules; a pack housing that accommodates the one or more battery modules in an internal space and has a pack hole formed therein; a vent unit attached to the pack housing and having a vent channel formed therein so that vent gas discharged from the pack hole can flow therein and be discharged to the outside, the vent unit including a protrusion configured to have a shape protruding from an inside of the vent channel toward an outer surface of the pack housing; Including, the vent unit further includes a plate portion formed in a plate shape and having the protrusion located on an inner surface thereof, and a peripheral portion protruding from a peripheral portion of the plate portion toward one side of an outer surface of the pack housing and coupled to that side of the pack housing.

11. A vehicle comprising the battery module according to claim 1.

12. a cell assembly comprising one or more battery cells; a module case that houses the cell assembly in an internal space and has a vent hole formed therein so that vent gas generated from the cell assembly can be discharged; a vent unit disposed outside the module case and having a vent channel formed therein so that vent gas discharged from the vent hole can flow therein and be discharged to the outside, the vent unit being configured so that the vent gas flows non-linearly through the vent channel; Including, The vent unit further includes a plate portion formed in a plate shape, and a peripheral portion protruding from a peripheral portion of the plate portion toward one side of an outer surface of the module case and coupled to that side of the module case.

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