Battery module and battery pack including same

Abstract

The battery module according to the present invention includes a battery cell assembly in which longitudinal unit cells, each of which is made of two or more battery cells arranged and connected in a row along the longitudinal direction, are stacked in two or more rows in the thickness direction of the battery cells, a hollow center guard disposed at a connection position of battery cell ends facing each other along the longitudinal direction from the longitudinal unit cells, and a module case in which the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard are housed.A first vent hole communicating with the hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in a side wall of the hollow center guard, and a second vent hole communicating with the hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in the module case covering an upper part of the hollow center guard.The present invention also relates to a battery pack including the battery module.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a battery module having an expandable structure capable of efficiently venting internal gas.

[0003] The present invention also relates to a battery pack including a stack of the above battery modules.

[0004] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0131101 dated October 1, 2021, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0131124 dated October 1, 2021, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0131089 dated October 1, 2021, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0124087 dated September 29, 2022, and all contents disclosed in the documents of said Korean patent applications are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0005] In recent years, rechargeable secondary batteries have been widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices. Secondary batteries are also attracting attention as energy sources for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are proposed as a solution to address air pollution caused by existing gasoline and diesel vehicles that use fossil fuels. Therefore, the types of applications that use secondary batteries are becoming increasingly diverse due to the advantages of secondary batteries, and secondary batteries are expected to be applied to many more fields and products in the future.

[0006] In addition, there is an increasing demand for battery modules housing a number of secondary batteries electrically connected in series or parallel and battery packs including the battery modules as power sources for energy storage systems (ESS) and electric vehicles.

[0007] Such a battery module or battery pack includes an external housing made of a metal material for storing and protecting a plurality of secondary batteries from external impacts.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view (FIG. 1(a)) and a cross-sectional view (FIG. 1(b)) of a conventional battery module 1. As shown in the figure, a battery cell stack consisting of several tens of battery cells 10 stacked together is housed and sealed in a single module case 1. Such a conventional battery module has the following problems.

[0009] First, since there is no path for safely discharging gas to the outside within the module, when an internal venting phenomenon occurs, it causes a rise in temperature within the module, which may result in a fire or explosion.

[0010] Secondly, since a single module contains several dozen stacked battery cells, if one battery cell ignites, the flames can easily spread to the other battery cells, posing the risk of the module burning down in a short period of time.

[0011] Thirdly, since single battery cells are stacked only in the thickness direction, the space utilization and design freedom of the battery cell arrangement is low. Therefore, there is a limit to assembling such modules to form a battery pack. In other words, it is not easy to configure a battery module or battery pack to fit a limited space such as an automobile or various spaces.

[0012] Therefore, there is a demand for the development of battery module-related technologies that can efficiently exhaust gases inside the module, prevent flame propagation, and increase design freedom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-010778 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an expandable battery module in which battery cells are connected in the lengthwise direction as well as in the thickness direction to improve space utilization of a battery module and a battery pack.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery module having a gas venting structure capable of efficiently discharging gas generated inside the expandable module.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack including a stack of the above battery modules. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] The battery module according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes a battery cell assembly in which longitudinal unit cells, each of which is made of two or more battery cells arranged and connected in a row along the longitudinal direction, are stacked in two or more rows in a thickness direction of the battery cells, a hollow center guard disposed at a connection position of battery cell ends facing each other along the longitudinal direction in the longitudinal unit cells, and a module case in which the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard are housed.A first vent hole communicating with a hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in a side wall of the hollow center guard, and a second vent hole communicating with a hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in the module case covering an upper portion of the hollow center guard.

[0018] The battery cells of the longitudinal unit cell may be connected by welding electrode leads at ends of the battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0019] An electrode lead of a battery cell located at one end of both longitudinal ends of the battery cell assembly may be electrically connected to a terminal bus bar, and an electrode lead of a battery cell located at the other end may be electrically connected to an electrode lead of a battery cell of a longitudinal unit cell adjacent to the battery cell in a thickness direction.

[0020] The battery cell assembly may have a 1P4S electrical connection structure in which longitudinal unit cells, each of which has two battery cells connected along the longitudinal direction, are stacked in two rows.

[0021] At least one heat insulating plate may be provided between adjacent longitudinal unit cells in the thickness direction of the battery cell.

[0022] The hollow center guard is disposed between each of the battery cell connecting portions along the longitudinal direction of two longitudinal unit cells adjacent to each other in the thickness direction of the battery cell.

[0023] The hollow center guard may be rod-shaped and extend to a predetermined length along the height direction of the battery cells between the upper and lower module cases, and the first venting holes may be disposed on both side walls of the lower side of the hollow center guard.

[0024] The module case portion having the second venting hole may be recessed downward to cover the upper portion of the hollow center guard.

[0025] A partition wall extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the battery cells may be disposed within the hollow of the hollow center guard, and the hollow may be divided into two by the partition wall.

[0026] In the hollow center guard, second center guards may be provided on both sides of the battery cell in a thickness direction, and the battery cells of the longitudinal unit cells may be connected in a longitudinal direction via the second center guards.

[0027] The second center guard may have a through slot or an incision slit extending downward from an upper end thereof, and a battery cell of a longitudinal unit cell may be connected through the through slot or the incision slit.

[0028] The module may further include end plates covering front and rear ends of the battery cell assemblies, respectively, and coupled to the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction of the module case.

[0029] The end plate may be provided with a third venting hole communicating with the outside.

[0030] A terminal bus bar may be provided on a front end plate, which covers a front end of the battery cell assembly, among the end plates, and electrode leads of the battery cells included in the battery cell assembly may be coupled to the terminal bus bar.

[0031] The end plate may have a space therein, a third venting hole communicating with the space on an inner surface of the end plate facing the battery cell assembly, and a fourth venting hole communicating with the internal space and the outside on a lower surface of the end plate.

[0032] A partition wall extending to a portion of the height of the end plate is provided in the internal space of the end plate, so that gas flowing into the third venting hole can overcome the partition wall and be discharged to the fourth venting hole.

[0033] Among the end plates, a terminal bus bar is provided on an outer surface of a front end plate that covers a front end of the battery cell assembly, and a through slot is provided in a body portion of the front end plate that surrounds a space inside the front end plate, and electrode leads of battery cells provided in the battery cell assembly may pass through the through slot and be coupled to the terminal bus bar.

[0034] A fixing coupling part to be coupled with a battery pack may protrude from a lower end of the end plate.

[0035] A thermally conductive resin layer may be disposed between at least one of a module case covering an upper portion of the battery cell assembly and the battery cell assembly, and a module case located below the battery cell assembly and the battery cell assembly.

[0036] A battery pack as another aspect of the present invention may include a battery module stack in which a plurality of the battery modules are stacked in at least one of a longitudinal direction and a thickness direction of the battery cell. Effect of the Invention

[0037] According to the present invention, an expandable battery module can be obtained in which battery cells are connected in the lengthwise direction as well as in the thickness direction to improve space utilization of the battery module and the battery pack.

[0038] In addition, the venting structure suitable for such an expandable battery module can efficiently exhaust gas within the module, thereby preventing temperature rise and fire outbreaks in the battery module and improving safety.

[0039] In particular, the exhaust direction of the venting gas can be unified on a module-by-module basis, and the movement path of the exhaust gas can be effectively controlled or realized at the upper stage of the battery pack. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] 1A and 1B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a conventional battery module; [Diagram 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] 2 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed configuration of a battery cell assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical connection relationship of a battery cell assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the connection relationship between the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hollow center guard. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example of a coupling relationship between a hollow center guard and a second center guard. [Figure 8] 11 is a side cross-sectional view showing the coupling relationship between the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another example of a hollow center guard. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 3A to 3C are a side cross-sectional view, a front perspective view, and a rear perspective view showing an example of a front end plate of a battery module according to the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view showing an example of a rear end plate of a battery module according to the present invention. [Figure 13] 4A and 4B are a partially cutaway perspective view and a plan view showing a coupling relationship between a front end plate of a battery module and a battery cell assembly according to the present invention; [Figure 14] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module taken along line AA' in FIG. 2. [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the location of a thermally conductive resin layer. [Figure 16] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a battery pack including a battery stack constructed with a battery module of the present invention. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THEINVENTION

[0041] The present invention will be described in detail below. Before that, 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 meanings and concepts that correspond to the technical ideas of the present invention, based on the principle that an inventor can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe his own invention.

[0042] As used throughout the present specification, terms such as "comprise" and "have" are intended to specify the presence of any features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof set forth in the specification, but should be understood as not precluding the presence or additional possibility of one or more other features, numerals, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0043] Furthermore, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other part is described as being "on" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly on" the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a layer, film, region, plate, or other part is described as being "under" another part, this includes not only the case where it is "directly under" the other part, but also the case where there is another part in between. Furthermore, in the specification of the present invention, being "on" can include not only the case where it is located at the top, but also the case where it is located at the bottom.

[0044] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view and an assembled perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a detailed configuration of a battery cell assembly according to one embodiment of the battery module, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical connection relationship of a battery cell assembly according to one embodiment of the battery module.

[0045] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the battery module 1000 of the present invention includes a battery cell assembly 100 including a longitudinal unit cell consisting of battery cells connected along the longitudinal direction, a hollow center guard 200 provided between the battery cell assembly 100 and the battery cells, and a module case 300 in which the battery cell assembly 100 and the hollow center guard 200 are housed.

[0046] In order to clearly show the connections between the leads 11, 11' of the longitudinal unit cells 110 constituting the battery cell assembly 100, the hollow center guard 200 is not shown in FIGS.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, based on the battery cell 10 having electrode leads 11, 11' formed at both ends and extending long in the longitudinal direction, the Y direction is the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 10 or the module case 300, the X direction is the thickness direction of the battery cell 10 or the module case 300 (stacking direction of the battery cells), and the Z direction is the up-down direction.

[0048] The battery cells 10 included in the battery cell assembly 100 of the present invention are so-called bidirectional battery cells 10 in which electrode leads 11, 11' are led out from both ends of the battery cells 10 so that the battery cells 10 can be arranged in a row along the longitudinal direction and connected. If such bidirectional battery cells 10 are arranged in a row and the electrode leads 11, 11' of the opposing battery cells are connected to each other, for example, by welding, the battery cells can be directly connected along the longitudinal direction without a separate connecting member. Therefore, according to the present invention, two or more battery cells can be connected in length along the longitudinal direction. As long as the space of the battery pack in which the battery module case 300 or the battery module 1000 is installed is allowed, the number of battery cells 10 connected along the longitudinal direction is not limited in principle. However, since the space of the battery module 1000 or the battery pack that can be actually installed in an automobile or the like is limited, it is preferable to connect about two to four battery cells 10 along the longitudinal direction. In addition, the number of battery cells 10 connected along the longitudinal direction may be changed depending on the size (length) of the battery cells 10 to be connected. In this specification, a battery cell 10 formed by arranging two or more battery cells 10, each having electrode leads 11, 11' formed at both longitudinal ends as described above, in a row and connecting the electrode leads 11, 11' at the opposing ends of the battery cells is referred to as a longitudinal unit cell 110.

[0049] The battery cell assembly 100 included in the battery module 1000 of the present invention is formed by stacking the longitudinal unit cells 110 in two or more rows in the thickness direction (X direction) of the battery cell 10. The number of rows in which the longitudinal unit cells 110 are stacked also depends on the allowable space of the battery module 1000 and the battery pack, the size of the battery cell 10, and the like. In addition, the number of the battery cells 10 in the longitudinal direction and the number of rows can be determined in consideration of the required capacity of the required electric device. In this way, the present invention can adjust the number of battery cell assemblies 100 in the longitudinal direction and the number of rows housed in the module case 300, thereby improving the design freedom. In addition, if the battery cell assemblies 100 are stacked in tens of pieces as in the conventional method, for example, by stacking about 2 to 4 pieces in the longitudinal direction and about 2 to 4 rows in the thickness direction of the battery cell, the battery cell assembly 100 can be configured more compactly. In addition, by accommodating the battery cell assemblies 100 each composed of a small number of battery cells 10 in separate module cases 300 and stacking the battery modules 1000 including the module cases 300 in the longitudinal or thickness direction of the battery cells 10 like Lego blocks, a battery pack can be freely configured in consideration of the space in which the battery modules 1000 are installed or the installation space of the battery pack. For example, by stacking each unit module of the battery module 1000 in the longitudinal direction, the same effect can be achieved without further connecting the battery cells of the longitudinal unit cells 110 in the longitudinal direction. This allows individual battery unit modules to be configured compactly. In addition, by stacking the battery modules 1000 in the thickness direction as many as necessary, the degree of freedom in design can be improved. In the structure in which several tens of battery cells are stacked in one module case as shown in FIG. 1, it is difficult to configure a battery pack as desired. That is, since the minimum unit of the battery cells included in the battery modules constituting the battery pack is different, the degree of freedom in design of the conventional battery module 1 is inevitably reduced accordingly.

[0050] Also, for example, if a fire occurs in one of the battery cells 10 included in a battery module, the battery module 1 in Fig. 1 is prone to the flame spreading to adjacent battery cells 10. However, in the structure of the battery module 1000 in Fig. 2 or the battery pack disclosed in Fig. 16 described below, a small number of battery cell assemblies 100 are housed separately in the battery module 1000, so that even if a fire occurs in a battery cell 10 in one battery module 1000, the fire is unlikely to spread to other battery modules 1000.

[0051] As described above, the battery cell assembly 100 of the present invention is configured such that the battery cell assemblies 100 each consisting of a specific number of battery cells 10 connected in the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction of the battery cells are housed in each module case. Therefore, since any number of battery packs can be manufactured according to the stacking (design) method of the battery module 1000 including such battery cell assemblies 100, the battery module 1000 of the present invention can be called an expandable module. In particular, the battery cell assembly 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that two battery cells 10 are connected in the longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal unit cells 110 are stacked in two rows, so that the battery cell assembly 100 is configured with a total of four battery cells 10.

[0052] For simplicity of illustration, hollow center guards provided between battery cells connected along the longitudinal direction are not shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 illustrates the electrical connections of such a battery cell assembly 100.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 4, two battery cells 10 are connected in the longitudinal direction to form a longitudinal unit cell 110, and the longitudinal unit cells 110 are stacked in two rows in the thickness direction of the battery cell. The electrode leads 11, 11' facing each other of the battery cells 10 connected in the longitudinal direction are connected by, for example, welding. Therefore, the longitudinal unit cells 110 can be easily formed by electrically connecting the battery cells 10 without a separate connecting member such as a bus bar. A heat insulating plate 20 can be provided between the longitudinal unit cells 110. The heat insulating plate 20 can prevent excessive heat from being transferred between the longitudinal unit cells 110 stacked in the thickness direction. The heat insulating plate 20 can be, for example, a silicon pad 22 having glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) pads 21, 23 bonded to both sides thereof (see FIG. 14). If necessary, an insulating sheet 30 can be provided between the battery cell assembly 100 and a module case 300 that encases the battery cell assembly 100. The configuration of the heat insulating plate 20 and the insulating sheet 30 is clearly shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG.

[0054] Referring again to FIG. 4, the electrical connection structure of the battery cell assembly 100 will be described again. In the middle part of the battery cell assembly 100, the electrode leads 11, 11' of opposite polarities of battery cells facing each other in the longitudinal direction are welded and connected to each other. Also, the electrode leads 11, 11' of opposite polarities of battery cells 10 of longitudinal unit cells 110 adjacent to each other in the thickness direction of the battery cell at the rear end of the battery cell assembly 100 are electrically connected to each other. Specifically, the leads 11, 11' of opposite polarities of adjacent battery cells 10 are bent toward each other and the bent parts are welded and connected to each other, so that two rows of longitudinal unit cells 110 can be electrically connected in series. Meanwhile, the electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cells 10 of the longitudinal unit cells 110 at the front end of the battery cell assembly 100 are bent outwardly without being connected to each other. The leads 11, 11' can be connected to a terminal bus bar 412 of a front end plate 410, as described below. The battery cell assembly 100 shown in Fig. 4 has a so-called 1P4S electrical connection structure in which four battery cells 10 are connected in series. However, the electrical connection structure of the battery cell assembly 100 of the present invention is not limited to this and may have other types of structures. For example, the overall electrical connection structure of the battery cell assembly 100 may be changed by changing the polarity of the battery cell leads included in the longitudinal unit cells 110 or by changing the number of battery cells 10 in the longitudinal and thickness directions.

[0055] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the connection relationship between a battery cell assembly and a hollow center guard, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hollow center guard, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the connection relationship between the hollow center guard and a second center guard, and FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the connection relationship between the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard.

[0056] In Figures 5 and 8, the vertical positions of the battery module and the battery cell assembly are reversed to those of the battery module in Figure 2. That is, Figure 8 illustrates the battery module turned upside down so that the upper case is located at the bottom and the lower case is located at the top. The battery module is turned upside down in Figures 5 and 8 in order to facilitate understanding and to match the arrangement of the hollow center guard illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.

[0057] 5 to 8, a hollow center guard 200 is disposed at a connection position of battery cell ends that face each other along the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal unit cell 110. In the battery cell assembly 100 according to the present invention, the battery cells are connected along the longitudinal direction, so that if a fire occurs in a battery cell 10 disposed at the front end in the longitudinal direction, for example, the flame can spread to the battery cell 10 at the rear end in the longitudinal direction that is connected to it. The hollow center guard 200 can block such flame spread in the longitudinal direction.

[0058] Specifically, the hollow center guard 200 is located adjacent to the portion where the electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cell ends facing each other in the longitudinal direction are connected. That is, a lot of heat is generated in this portion, and a lot of gas is generated due to the battery reaction. Therefore, the hollow center guard 200 is provided in the module case at the position where the battery cell ends facing each other in the longitudinal direction are connected to each other.

[0059] 5, two longitudinal unit cells 110 are stacked in the thickness direction of the battery cell. In this case, the hollow center guard 200 can be disposed between the battery cell connection parts (electrode lead connection parts) along the longitudinal direction of two longitudinal unit cells 110 adjacent to each other in the thickness direction of the battery cell. That is, the hollow center guard 200 is located between the battery cell connection part along the longitudinal direction of one longitudinal unit cell 110 and the battery cell connection part along the longitudinal direction of another longitudinal unit cell 110 adjacent to the longitudinal unit cell in the thickness direction of the battery cell.

[0060] The hollow center guard 200 functions as a vent passage for discharging gas and heat to the outside in addition to the flame propagation blocking function. For this purpose, the hollow center guard 200 has a hollow 210 therein.

[0061] As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the hollow center guard 200 may be in the shape of a rod extending to a predetermined length along the height direction of the battery cell between the upper and lower module cases. Therefore, the hollow 210 also extends along the height direction of the battery cell. The length of the vent passage along the height direction of the battery cell is determined according to the length of the hollow center guard 200. It is preferable that the length of the hollow center guard 200 is approximately the same as or slightly shorter than the height of the battery cell so that gas generated from the battery cell can be easily vented.

[0062] A first vent hole 211 connected to a hollow 210 in the hollow center guard 200 is provided on a side wall of the hollow center guard 200. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 6, gas generated from the battery cells 10 at the front and rear ends of the longitudinal unit cells 110 can be introduced into the hollow 210 through the first vent hole 211, and the gas can move through the hollow 210.

[0063] The first venting holes 211 are preferably provided on both side walls of the hollow center guard 210 so as to be able to exhaust all gas generated in the battery cells 10 on the left and right sides in the longitudinal direction.

[0064] 2 and 8, the module case 300 of the battery module 1000 according to the present invention covers the upper part of the hollow center guard 200. The module case 300 (the module case portion 310a covering the battery cell assembly 100 from the longitudinal center of the battery cell assembly 100) covering the upper part of the hollow center guard 200 is provided with a second venting hole 312 communicating with the hollow 210 of the hollow center guard 200.

[0065] In order to form a ventilation passage penetrating the top and bottom of the battery module, the first venting hole 211 is preferably disposed on both side walls of the lower side of the hollow type center guard 200. That is, the second venting hole 312 is located at the top of the module, and the first venting hole 211 of the hollow type center guard 200 is located at the bottom of the module. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a ventilation passage is formed along the first venting hole 211-the hollow 210 of the hollow type center guard 200-the second venting hole 312, and gas can be easily discharged to the outside of the module along this ventilation passage.

[0066] The module case portion 311 in which the second venting hole 312 is formed may be formed as a recessed portion 311 recessed downward as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. With this structure, when the battery modules 1000 are stacked and accommodated in a battery pack, it is easy to provide a separate venting pipe in the recessed portion 311 or to connect a separate venting passage to the recessed portion 311. In addition, for example, when the expandable battery module 1000 of the present invention is stacked in the thickness direction of the battery cell, a rod-shaped venting pipe crossing the recessed portion 311 may be provided to efficiently vent gas. That is, when the battery modules 1000 are stacked and configured into a battery pack as an upper unit body, for example, as shown in Fig. 16, the exhaust direction of the venting gas may be unified, and the movement path of the exhaust gas may be effectively controlled in the battery pack as an upper unit body of the battery module.

[0067] 5 and 6, a partition wall 210a extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell 10 may be formed in the hollow 210 of the hollow center guard 200 to separate the hollow 210 into two. A first vent hole 211 may be formed in the left and right side walls of each of the two hollows to allow gas generated in the battery cell 10 to be discharged through the two hollows 210. When the hollow of the center guard 200 is separated into two by the partition wall 210a as in FIG. 6, the second vent hole 312 may be formed in two accordingly. Referring to FIG. 8, it can be seen that two second vent holes 312 are formed in the module case portion 310a at the bottom of the hollow.

[0068] Meanwhile, in addition to the center guard 200, second center guards 250 may be provided on both sides of the center guard. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the second center guards 250 may be provided on both sides of the center guard 200 in the thickness direction of the battery cell 10. The second center guard, like the hollow center guard 200, may also function to prevent flames from propagating to the front and rear ends in the longitudinal direction. That is, by positioning the hollow center guard 200 and the second center guard 250 at the position of the battery cell connection part in the center of the longitudinal unit cell, it is possible to efficiently block flames from propagating between the battery cells at the front and rear ends of the longitudinal unit cell.

[0069] In this case, the battery cells of the longitudinal unit cell 100 may be connected in the longitudinal direction via the second center guard 250. That is, the electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cells 10 facing each other in the longitudinal direction may be coupled to each other via the center guard 250. For this purpose, the second center guard 250 may have a through slot (not shown) through which the electrode leads may pass. Alternatively, the second center guard 250 may have an incision slit 251 extending downward from one end (e.g., the upper end) of the second center guard 250. The incision slit 251 may support the coupled portions of the electrode leads 11, 11' by clamping them.

[0070] In this manner, according to the present embodiment, gas and heat inside the battery module 1000 can be discharged through the first venting hole 211, the hollow 210 of the hollow center guard 200, and the second venting hole 312, while the hollow center guard 200 and the second center guard 250 can prevent flame propagation between the battery cells, thereby further improving the safety of the battery module 1000.

[0071] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another example of the hollow center guard 200.

[0072] The hollow center guard 200 in Fig. 9 does not have a partition wall 210a that partitions the hollow, and has one hollow 210'. In this case, the volume of the hollow 210' increases as the partition wall 210a is removed, making it easier to exhaust a larger amount of gas through the hollow 210'.

[0073] There is one hollow 210', but a pair of first venting holes 211' are formed on the left and right side walls of the center guard 200. Gas generated in the battery cells 10 arranged at the front and rear ends of the battery cell assembly 100 can be introduced into the hollow 210' through the first venting hole 211. This gas can be easily discharged to the outside through the second venting hole 312 formed in the upper part of the module case 300, as described above.

[0074] The present invention also includes a module case 300 in which the battery cell assembly 100 is housed. A characteristic feature of the present invention is that the module case 300 is formed with a second vent hole 312 that is connected to the first vent hole 211 of the center guard 200 and is connected to the outside.

[0075] The present invention includes a module case 300 in which the battery cell assembly 100 and the hollow center guard 200 are housed. Since the battery cell assembly 100 is structured to be extended and stacked in the longitudinal direction and thickness direction of the battery cells, the module case 300 is also elongated in the longitudinal direction accordingly. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the module case 300 is composed of left and right cases 310 and 320 that enclose and combine the battery cell assembly 100 from both sides, but is not limited thereto. For example, the module case 300 may be composed of a U-shaped case that encloses the lower part and both sides of the battery cell assembly 100, and an upper case that covers the upper part of the U-shaped case. In this case, the recess 311 and the second venting hole 312 may be formed in the upper case. In this embodiment, the right case 310 is configured in a C-shape. The battery cell assembly 100 may be seated in the space of the C-shaped case of the right case 310. Therefore, the right case 310 encloses one side and the upper and lower parts of the battery cell assembly 100 to house the battery cell assembly 100. The right case 310 may be formed by welding the upper case 310a, the lower case 310a' and the side plate case 310b together, or may be formed by bending one plate into a C-shape. As described above, the module case 300 of the present invention has a second vent hole 312 formed in the module case portion covering the upper part of the center guard 200, the second vent hole 312 being connected to the outside and communicating with the hollow of the hollow type center guard 200. As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 311 is formed in the upper center of the upper case 310a of the C-shaped right case 310, and a second vent hole 312 is formed on the recess. The left and right cases may be joined by any structure, such as welding, adhesive coating, or a hooking structure, as long as the battery cell assembly 100 can be reliably seated and firmly joined. 2 and 3, a recess 321 is formed in the central upper portion of the left case 320 so as to correspond to the recess 311 of the upper case 310a of the right case 310. As shown in FIG.

[0076] 2 to 5, the battery module 1000 of the present invention may further include end plates 400 coupled to the front and rear ends of the module case 300 in the longitudinal direction.

[0077] As shown in the drawings, the end plate 400 comprises a front end plate 410 and a rear end plate 420 respectively coupled to the front end and rear end of the module case 300. The end plates 410 and 420 serve to close the front and rear ends of the module case 300. That is, the end plate 400 covers the front and rear ends of the battery cell assemblies 100 housed in the module case, respectively, and is coupled to the front and rear ends of the module case, respectively.

[0078] Meanwhile, in the battery module 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the end plate 400 also has venting holes (third venting holes 413, 423) communicating with the outside.

[0079] The end plates, i.e., the front end plate 410 and the rear end plate 420, are adjacent to the electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cell assembly 100, and therefore may include insulating sheets 411, 421, respectively, for electrical insulation. That is, as shown in Fig. 2, an insulating sheet 421 is attached to the inner surface of the rear end plate 420, which is coupled to the rear end of the module case. As the insulating sheet 421, a mica sheet having good heat resistance may be used.

[0080] Among the end plates, an insulating sheet 412 is attached to an outer surface (front surface) of a front end plate 410 which is coupled to the front end of the module case 300. The front end plate 410 has a terminal bus bar 412. Referring to FIG 2, the terminal bus bar 412 is provided on the front surface of the front end plate 410. The electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cells 10 provided at the front end of the battery cell assembly 100 are coupled to the terminal bus bar 412.

[0081] Since insulation of the terminal bus bar 412 is important, an insulating sheet 411 is attached to the outer surface of the front end plate. A through hole (not shown) through which the terminal bus bar 412 is exposed is located on the inner surface of the front end plate 410 facing the module case 300, and the electrode leads 11, 11' at the front end of the battery cell assembly 100 may be electrically connected to the terminal bus bar 412 through the through hole. Alternatively, the electrode leads 11, 11' at the front end of the battery cell assembly 100 may be bent to contact the terminal bus bar 412 attached to the outer surface of the front end plate, thereby achieving electrical connection. In this manner, the terminal bus bar and the battery cell assembly 100 may be electrically connected in various ways, and the specific form of electrical connection is not limited.

[0082] As clearly shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the front end plate 410 and the rear end plate 420 of the present invention are formed with third venting holes 413, 423 communicating with the outside. As a result, gas generated inside the front and rear ends of the module case 300 can be efficiently vented to the outside. As a result, the battery module 1000 of the present invention can exhaust gas at the center of the module through the first venting hole 211 and hollow 210 of the hollow type center guard 200 and the second venting hole 312 formed at the top of the module case 300, and can exhaust gas at the front and rear ends of the module through the third venting holes 413, 423 of the front and rear end plates. Therefore, the battery module 1000 of the present invention can exhaust gas at three points along the longitudinal direction, and can more efficiently prevent an internal temperature rise and fire outbreak.

[0083] Meanwhile, assuming that the battery module is installed in a battery pack, a venting hole or a venting channel may be formed in the battery pack case, the venting hole or the venting channel being in communication with the third venting holes 413, 423. Therefore, the gas discharged from the third venting holes 413, 423 may be efficiently discharged to the outside of the battery pack through the venting hole or the venting channel formed in the battery pack case.

[0084] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] In the battery module of this embodiment, fixing coupling parts 415 and 425 are protruded from the lower end of the end plate 400 to be coupled to the battery pack at the end.

[0086] Specifically, a fixing coupling part 415 is protruded from the lower end of the outer surface of the front end plate 410 so that the front end plate 410 can be coupled to a battery pack by a coupling member (not shown). Also, a fixing coupling part 425 is protruded from the lower end of the outer surface of the rear end plate 420 so that the rear end plate 420 can be coupled to a battery pack by a coupling member.

[0087] The fixed coupling parts 415 and 425 may have coupling holes formed therein to accommodate coupling members.

[0088] The battery cell assembly 100 is placed in the module case 300, and the front end plate 410 and the rear end plate 420 are respectively coupled to the front end and rear end of the module case 300. Then, the battery module 1000 of the present invention can be easily coupled to a battery pack by fastening coupling members such as bolts to the coupling holes of the fixed coupling parts 415, 425 of the front end plate 410 and the rear end plate 420 and to the bottom of the battery pack.

[0089] In this embodiment, fixing coupling parts 415, 425 are protrudingly formed at the lower end of the outer surface of the end plate 400. However, as a modified example, the fixing coupling parts may be formed at the upper end of the outer surface of the end plate 300, or the fixing coupling parts may be protrudingly formed at the upper and lower ends of the outer surface of the end plate 300, but are not limited thereto. When the fixing coupling parts are formed at the upper end of the end plate, the upper case of the battery pack and the fixing coupling parts may be coupled to each other by a coupling member.

[0090] FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view (FIG. 11(a)), a front oblique view (FIG. 11(b)), and a rear oblique view (FIG. 11(c)) showing an example of a front end plate of a battery module according to the present invention, FIG. 12 is a rear oblique view showing an example of a rear end plate of a battery module according to the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway oblique view and a plan view showing the connection relationship between the front end plate of a battery module according to the present invention and a battery cell assembly.

[0091] The venting structure of the end plate in Figures 11 and 12 is different from the venting structure of the end plate shown in Figures 2 and 3. In Figures 2 and 3, a third venting hole 413 is formed so as to penetrate the front end plate 410, and a third venting hole 423 is formed so as to penetrate the rear end plate 420, and these third venting holes 413, 423 are directly connected to the outside to exhaust gas.

[0092] 11 and 12 has a structure that has a space therein and exhausts gas through this space. That is, the end plate of this embodiment has a space S therein, third venting holes 413', 423' that communicate with the space S on the inner side of the end plate facing the battery cell assembly, and fourth venting holes 414, 424 that communicate with the internal space S and the outside on the lower side of the end plate.

[0093] In this embodiment, the gas generated in the module flows into the end plate through the third venting holes 413', 423', flows in the space S in the end plate, and then can be discharged to the outside through the fourth venting holes 414, 424. Therefore, in this embodiment, the gas venting path is longer than that of the end plate of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. When the gas venting path is longer, the temperature and pressure of the high-temperature and high-pressure venting gas decreases while moving, so that the risk of discharging the gas to the outside can be reduced. In addition, the incompletely combusted gas can be completely combusted and stabilized while moving through the long gas venting path. In this embodiment, in order to lengthen the gas venting path, the fourth venting holes 414, 424 are provided on the lower surface of the end plate.

[0094] In addition, as a modified example of the present embodiment, a partition wall W is provided in the internal space S of the end plate, which extends to a portion of the height of the end plate. Since the partition wall W extends only to a portion of the height of the end plate, the internal space S is not completely blocked. That is, a passage through which gas can move is formed between the upper end of the partition wall W and the upper portion of the end plate. Therefore, gas can move through the passage by overcoming the partition wall W. According to this example, gas flowing into the third venting holes 413', 423' is exhausted from the fourth venting holes 414, 424 by overcoming the partition wall W. The partition wall W makes the gas venting path in the end plate longer. As a result, the state of the gas exhausted to the outside is more stabilized, and safety can be further improved.

[0095] 11(a), a gas venting path of a front end plate 410' having a space S therein is shown. As shown, gas flows into the internal space S through a third venting hole 413' provided on the inner surface of the front end plate 410' and moves upward through a passage formed between the partition wall W and the front end plate 410'. The gas that has moved upward moves downward again over the partition wall W and is discharged to the outside through a fourth venting hole 414 provided on the lower surface of the front end plate 410'.

[0096] Considering the gas venting path over the partition, it is preferable that the third venting hole 413' is disposed at the lower part of the inner surface of the front end plate 410' close to the fourth venting hole 414 in order to make the gas venting path longer.

[0097] Assuming that the battery module is installed in a battery pack, a venting hole or a venting channel may be formed in the battery pack case, the venting hole or the venting channel being in communication with the fourth venting hole 414. Therefore, the gas discharged from the fourth venting hole 414 may be efficiently discharged to the outside of the battery pack through the venting hole or the venting channel formed in the battery pack case.

[0098] FIG. 12 shows a rear end plate 420' having a space S therein. FIG. 12(a) shows that the third venting hole 423' is disposed at the bottom of the rear end plate 420', and FIG. 12(b) shows that the third venting holes 423b' and 423a' are disposed at the top and bottom of the rear end plate 420', respectively. In this manner, the third venting holes 413' and 423' may be formed in a plurality on the inner surface of the front end plate 410' or the rear end plate 420'. As the number of third venting holes increases, more gas may be discharged to the outside quickly.

[0099] Referring again to FIG. 11, a terminal bus bar 412 is provided on the outer surface of the front end plate 410'. In this embodiment, the front end plate 410' has a predetermined thickness and has a space S therein. Therefore, the rear surface of the terminal bus bar 412 is not exposed toward the electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cell assembly. In this embodiment, a through slot 416 is provided in a body portion of the front end plate surrounding the space inside the front end plate, so that the electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cells provided in the battery cell assembly 100 pass through the through slot 416 and are coupled to the terminal bus bar. Reference numeral 416 in FIG. 11(c) indicates a through slot formed in the front end plate 410'. Reference numeral 416' in FIG. 11(b) indicates an exit of the through slot. As shown in FIG. 11, the through slot is formed on both sides in the width direction of the body portion of the front end plate 410'. The electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cell assembly 100 having opposite polarities are respectively led out to the outer surface of the front end plate 410' through the through slots 416 formed on both sides. The ends of the led out electrode leads 11, 11' are bent towards the terminal bus bar 412 and welded to the terminal bus bar 412.

[0100] Fig. 13 shows the connection relationship between the electrode leads 11, 11' and the terminal bus bar 412. Fig. 13 shows the front end plate 410' of Fig. 11 cut at the mid-height.

[0101] The electrode leads 11, 11' of the battery cell ends located at the front end of the battery cell assembly 100 are led out to the outer side of the front end plate 410' through through slots 416 provided on both sides in the width direction of the body part of the front end plate 410'. Meanwhile, the through slots 416 are formed in the body part of the front end plate 410' (i.e., the thick part of the front end plate body) surrounding the internal space of the front end plate 410'. Therefore, the through slots 416 are not communicated with the internal space S (see FIG. 13). The electrode leads 11, 11' inserted into the through slots 416 are also located apart from the internal space S. Therefore, even if high-temperature and high-pressure gas flows into the internal space S, the electrode leads 11, 11' are not affected by the gas, and the electrical connection path of the battery module 1000 can be stably maintained without being destroyed.

[0102] As described above, by using the end plates of FIGS. 11 to 13 to form longer gas venting paths at the front and rear ends of the battery module of the present invention, the safety of gas discharge during thermal runaway can be greatly improved.

[0103] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module taken along line AA' in FIG. 2, and FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the installation position of the thermally conductive resin layer.

[0104] 14, the longitudinal unit cells 110 constituting the battery cell assembly 100 may be bonded by adhesive T. As described above, a heat insulating plate 20 may be installed between the longitudinal unit cells 110, and the heat insulating plate 20 and the longitudinal unit cells 110 may be bonded to form the battery cell assembly 100. Adhesive T may also be applied to an outer surface of the battery cell assembly 100 facing the module case 300 to seat the battery cell assembly 100 in the module case. In this case, an insulating sheet 30 may be positioned between the battery cell assembly 100 and the module case 300.

[0105] In particular, as shown in FIG. 14 , a thermally conductive resin layer R may be filled or applied in at least one of the space between the module case 300 covering the upper part of the battery cell assembly 100 and the battery cell assembly 100, and the space between the module case 300 located at the lower part of the battery cell assembly 100 and the battery cell assembly 100.

[0106] 2 and 14, the space between the module case 300 covering the upper part of the battery cell assembly 100 and the battery cell assembly 100 is a space surrounded by the upper case 310a and the upper part of the side panel case 310b of the right case 310 in FIG. 2, the upper end of the left case 320, and the battery cell assembly 100.

[0107] The space between the module case 300 located below the battery cell assembly 100 and the battery cell assembly 100 is a space surrounded by the lower case 310a' and the lower part of the side plate case 310b of the right case 310 in Figure 2, the lower end of the left case 320, and the battery cell assembly 100.

[0108] The thermally conductive resin layer R may be made of silicone resin, modified silicone resin, acrylic resin, or the like. When such a thermally conductive resin layer R is filled between the battery cell assembly 100 and the module case, the battery cell assembly 100 can be fixed without flowing within the module case 300. In addition, since the resin layer is a so-called thermal resin having thermal conductivity, it can efficiently absorb heat generated inside the battery module 1000. In addition, the thermally conductive resin layer R can further improve heat insulation efficiency by transferring heat to, for example, a cooling plate (not shown) provided on the upper part of the battery module.

[0109] As described above, the battery cell assembly 100 is mounted in the module case 300, and the battery cell assembly 100 is fixed with adhesive T and a thermally conductive adhesive resin layer R to form an expandable battery module 1000 as shown in FIG. 14.

[0110] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the installation position of the thermally conductive resin layer R of the present invention. The thermally conductive resin layer R may be filled between the upper case or the lower case and the battery cell assembly 100 along the longitudinal direction of the module case 300. However, as shown in FIG. 15, the thermally conductive resin layer R may be formed only in the portion that is structurally subjected to a lot of stress or the portion where a lot of heat is generated. That is, the portion shown in the dashed box in FIG. 15 is the portion where the electrode lead of the longitudinal battery cell 10 is led out or electrically connected, and thus is the portion where a lot of heat is generated. Therefore, if the thermally conductive resin layer R is formed in such a portion in the form of a block having a predetermined width, for example, a resin block, the amount of the thermally conductive resin layer R used may be reduced. Also, as shown in FIG. 15, the dashed box portion is the front end, middle end, and rear end of the module case 300, which are structurally subjected to stress, and by adhesively fixing these three portions, it is possible to effectively prevent the module case 300 from coming off or the battery cell assembly 100 from moving.

[0111] The above description is merely illustrative of the technical concept of the present invention, and various modifications and variations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the module case 300 is composed of a C-shaped right case 310 and an I-shaped left case 320, but for example, the module case 300 enclosing the battery cell assembly 100 may be formed by joining left and right cases having the same left and right U-shape or upper and lower cases having the same top and bottom U-shape. In addition, in FIG. 14, the thermally conductive resin layer R is filled on the entire top and bottom of the module case 300, but the thermally conductive resin layer R may be filled only in one place, either the top or bottom, as necessary.

[0112] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a battery pack 2000 including a battery stack 1000' constructed with battery modules 1000 of the present invention.

[0113] As described above, the battery module 1000 of the present invention includes a battery cell assembly 100 in which a predetermined number of battery cells 10 are stacked in the thickness direction of the battery cells as longitudinal unit cells 110, and a module case 300 corresponding to the battery cell assembly 100 is extended in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the battery module 1000 can be easily connected in the longitudinal direction or thickness direction like Lego blocks. As shown in FIG. 16, a battery module stack 1000' can be configured by stacking a plurality of expandable battery modules 1000 in the longitudinal direction and thickness direction of the battery cells 10 in one battery pack case 2100. In addition to the configuration shown in FIG. 16, the stacking direction (shape) of the expandable battery module 1000 can be changed to match the shape of the applied battery pack case 2100. In this respect, the expandable battery module 1000 of the present invention has a very high degree of freedom in design. In particular, as described above, the battery module 1000 of the present invention has venting paths formed at three locations, namely, the front and rear ends of the module and the hollow center guard at the center. Therefore, for example, if a vent passage communicating with the vent path is formed in the battery pack case 2100, gas inside the battery pack can be easily removed.

[0114] The drawings disclosed in the present invention are for the purpose of explanation and not for the purpose of limiting the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited by such drawings. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims, and all technical ideas within the equivalent range should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

[0115] In this specification, terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and back are used for the convenience of explanation, but it is self-evident that these terms may change depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 10: Battery cell 11, 11': Lead 20: Insulation board 30: Insulation sheet 100: Battery cell assembly 110: Longitudinal unit cell 200: Hollow center guard 210:Hollow 210a: Partition wall 211: First Venting Hall 250: 2nd Center Guard 251: Incision slit 300: Module case 310: Right case 310a: Upper case 310a': Lower case 310b: Side panel case 311: Indentation 312: Second Venting Hall 320: Left case 400: End plate 410, 410': Front end plate 411: Insulation sheet 412: Terminal busbar 413, 413': 3rd Venting Hole 414: 4th Venting Hall 415: Fixed joint 420, 420': Rear end plate 421: Insulation sheet 423, 423': 3rd Venting Hole 424: 4th Venting Hall 425: Fixed joint R: Thermally conductive resin layer T: Adhesive 1000: Battery module 1000': Battery module stack 2100: Battery pack case 2000: Battery pack

Claims

1. a battery cell assembly in which longitudinal direction unit cells, each of which is made of two or more battery cells arranged and connected in a row along a longitudinal direction, are stacked in two or more rows in a thickness direction of the battery cells; a hollow center guard disposed at a connection position between battery cell ends facing each other along the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal unit cell; a module case in which the battery cell assembly and the hollow center guard are housed; A first vent hole communicating with the hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in a side wall of the hollow center guard, a second vent hole communicating with the hollow of the hollow center guard is provided in the module case covering the upper part of the hollow center guard; The battery cells of the longitudinal unit cell are connected to each other at electrode leads at ends of the battery cells that face each other along the longitudinal direction, the hollow center guard is disposed between the connected electrode leads adjacent to each other in the thickness direction, a vent passage is formed along the first vent hole, the hollow of the hollow center guard, and the second vent hole, and gas generated from the battery cell is discharged to the outside of the module case along the vent passage; Battery module.

2. an electrode lead of a battery cell located at one end of both longitudinal ends of the battery cell assembly is electrically connected to a terminal bus bar; an electrode lead of a battery cell located at the other end of the battery cell assembly in a longitudinal direction is electrically connected to an electrode lead of a battery cell of a longitudinal unit cell adjacent to the battery cell in a thickness direction of the battery cell; The battery module according to claim 1 .

3. The battery cell assembly has a 1P4S electrical connection structure in which longitudinal unit cells, each of which has two battery cells connected along a longitudinal direction, are stacked in two rows. The battery module according to claim 1 .

4. At least one heat insulating plate is provided between adjacent longitudinal unit cells in the thickness direction of the battery cell. The battery module according to claim 1 .

5. the hollow center guard is disposed between each battery cell connection portion along the longitudinal direction of two longitudinal unit cells adjacent to each other in the thickness direction of the battery cell; The battery module according to claim 1 .

6. the hollow center guard has a rod shape extending to a predetermined length along a height direction of the battery cells between the upper module case and the lower module case, The first vent holes are disposed on both side walls of the lower portion of the hollow center guard. The battery module according to claim 1 .

7. The module case portion having the second vent hole is recessed downward to cover the upper portion of the hollow center guard. The battery module according to claim 6.

8. A partition wall extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the battery cell is disposed within the hollow of the hollow center guard, The partition wall divides the hollow space into two. The battery module according to claim 1 .

9. a second center guard is provided on both sides of the hollow center guard in the thickness direction of the battery cell; The battery cells of the longitudinal unit cells are connected in the longitudinal direction via the second center guard. The battery module according to claim 1 .

10. The second center guard has a through slot or a cutout slit extending downward from an upper end thereof, The battery cells of the longitudinal unit cells are connected through the through slots or cut slits; The battery module according to claim 9.

11. and further comprising end plates respectively covering front and rear ends of the battery cell assembly and coupled to the front and rear ends of the module case in the longitudinal direction. The battery module according to claim 1 .

12. The end plate is provided with a third vent hole communicating with the outside. The battery module according to claim 11.

13. a terminal bus bar is provided on a front end plate that covers a front end of the battery cell assembly, an electrode lead of a battery cell included in the battery cell assembly is coupled to the terminal bus bar; The battery module according to claim 11.

14. The end plate has an internal space, a third vent hole communicating with the space on an inner surface of the end plate facing the battery cell assembly; A fourth vent hole is provided on the lower surface of the end plate, the fourth vent hole communicating with the space and the outside. The battery module according to claim 11.

15. A partition wall is provided in the space of the end plate, the partition wall extending to a part of the height of the end plate, The gas flowing into the third vent hole passes through the partition wall and is discharged to the fourth vent hole. The battery module according to claim 14.

16. a terminal bus bar is provided on an outer surface of a front end plate that covers a front end of the battery cell assembly, a through slot is provided in a body portion of the front end plate surrounding the space within the front end plate; an electrode lead of a battery cell included in the battery cell assembly passes through the through slot and is coupled to the terminal bus bar; The battery module according to claim 14.

17. A fixing coupling portion is protruded from a lower end of the end plate to be coupled with a battery pack. The battery module according to claim 14.

18. a thermally conductive resin layer is disposed at least between a module case covering an upper portion of the battery cell assembly and the battery cell assembly, and between a module case located under the battery cell assembly and the battery cell assembly; The battery module according to claim 1 .

19. A battery pack including a battery module stack in which a plurality of battery modules according to any one of claims 1 to 18 are stacked in at least one of a longitudinal direction and a thickness direction of the battery cells.

Images