Battery module and battery pack including the same

Abstract

A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells; a module frame that houses the battery cell stack; and a cooling pipe member formed between an upper portion of the battery cell stack and the module frame, the cooling pipe member including a first cooling pipe portion and a second cooling pipe portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10 - 2022 - 0009946, filed on January 24, 2022, and all the contents disclosed in the literature of the Korean patent application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0002] The present invention relates to a battery module and a battery pack including the same, and more particularly, to a battery module and a battery pack having a novel cooling structure.

Background Art

[0003] As the technology development and demand for mobile devices increase, the demand for secondary batteries as an energy source has been rapidly increasing. In particular, secondary batteries are attracting attention not only as an energy source for mobile devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, notebook computers, and wearable devices, but also as an energy source for power devices such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid electric vehicles.

[0004] For small mobile devices, one or two to four battery cells are used per device. However, for medium - to - large - sized devices such as automobiles, high output and large capacity are required. Therefore, medium - to - large - sized battery modules in which a large number of battery cells are electrically connected are used.

[0005] Medium - to - large - sized battery modules are preferably manufactured with the smallest possible size and weight. Therefore, prismatic batteries, pouch - type batteries, etc., which can be stacked with a high degree of integration and have a small volume - to - capacity ratio, are mainly used as the battery cells of medium - to - large - sized battery modules. Such a battery module has a structure in which a plurality of cell assemblies each including a plurality of unit battery cells are connected in series to obtain high output. And the battery cell includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode current collector, a separator, an active material, an electrolyte, etc., and can be repeatedly charged and discharged by an electrochemical reaction between the components.

[0006] On the one hand, in recent years, there has been an increasing need for large-capacity structures, including their use as energy storage sources, and there has been an increasing demand for a number of battery modules in which a large number of secondary batteries are connected in series and / or in parallel, and battery packs having a multi-module structure in which the battery modules are assembled.

[0007] Also, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series / parallel, it is common to first configure a battery module composed of at least one battery cell, and use such at least one battery module to add other components to configure the battery pack.

[0008] Generally, when the temperature of a secondary battery becomes higher than the appropriate temperature, the performance of the secondary battery may deteriorate, and in severe cases, there is also a risk of explosion or ignition. In particular, a large number of secondary batteries, that is, battery modules or battery packs equipped with battery cells, may have the heat generated from a large number of battery cells in a narrow space added up, and the temperature may rise faster and more violently. That is, in the case of a battery module in which a large number of battery cells are stacked and a battery pack equipped with such a battery module, a high output can be obtained, but it is not easy to remove the heat generated from the battery cells during charging and discharging. If the heat dissipation of the battery cells is not properly performed, the deterioration of the battery cells will speed up, the life will be shortened, and the possibility of explosion or ignition will increase.

[0009] Furthermore, in the case of a battery module included in a vehicle battery pack, it may be frequently exposed to direct sunlight and placed in high-temperature conditions such as in summer or desert areas.

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional battery module. Figure 2 is a drawing showing a cross-section cut along the cutting line A-A' of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a drawing showing an enlarged view of part B of Figure 2.

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a conventional battery module 10 includes a battery cell stack 12 in which a plurality of battery cells 11 are stacked in one direction, a module frame 25 that houses the battery cell stack 12, and end plates 15 that cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 12. The module frame 25 includes a lower frame 30 that covers the lower part and both side surfaces of the battery cell stack 12, and an upper plate 40 that covers the upper surface of the battery cell stack 12. Further, a thermally conductive resin layer 31 may be formed between the lower part of the battery cell stack 12 and the bottom of the module frame 25.

[0012] At this time, referring to FIG. 3, the battery cells 11 of the conventional battery module 10 are configured by folding or maintaining the sealing portion 11a as it is. At this time, when the sealing portion 11a is arranged as shown in FIG. 3, it is difficult to utilize the space between the upper plate 40 and the battery cell stack 12 due to the sealing portion 11a. Therefore, due to the arrangement of the sealing portion 11a, it is not only difficult to achieve an effective cooling effect through the upper part of the battery module 10, but also there is a problem that the cooling performance deteriorates due to an air layer formed adjacent to the sealing portion 11a, such as the space between the sealing portion 11a and the main body of the battery cell 11.

[0013] Therefore, the heat generated from the battery cells of the conventional battery module is released only through a one-way path through the thermally conductive resin layer formed at the lower part of the battery cell stack and the bottom of the module frame. However, in recent years, the requirements for high capacity, high energy, rapid charging, etc. have been continuously increasing, the amount of current flowing through the electrode leads and bus bars has increased, and the heat generated from the bus bars, battery cells, and electrode leads also tends to increase. Such heat generation is difficult to effectively cool with only the conventional cooling structure.

[0014] Therefore, there is a need for a new structure to solve the heat generation problem of battery cells that occurs in response to requirements such as high capacity, high energy, and rapid charging. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0015] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a battery module that reduces the temperature of battery cells and improves cooling performance, and a battery pack including the same.

[0016] However, the problem to be solved by the present invention is not limited to the above problems, and problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains from this specification and the attached drawings.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0017] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery cell laminate including a plurality of battery cells; a module frame that houses the battery cell laminate; and a cooling pipe member formed between an upper portion of the battery cell laminate and the module frame, and the cooling pipe member includes a first cooling pipe portion and a second cooling pipe portion.

[0018] The battery cell includes a sealing portion formed along the length direction of the battery cell, and the cooling pipe member may be formed adjacent to the sealing portion.

[0019] In the battery module according to this embodiment, the sealing portion can be located between the first cooling pipe portion and the second cooling pipe portion.

[0020] The sealing portion is bent at least once in one direction.

[0021] The sealing portion is bent a plurality of times in one direction, and the sealing portion bent a plurality of times may be arranged in parallel with a side surface portion of the module frame.

[0022] The sealing portion includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion connected to each other, and the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion may be arranged in parallel with each other.

[0023] The sealing part further includes a first connecting part and a second connecting part, and the length of the first part may be formed longer than the length of the first connecting part.

[0024] The first cooling pipe part and the second cooling pipe part are connected to each other, and a cooling flow path may be formed along the first cooling pipe part and the second cooling pipe part.

[0025] The first cooling pipe part and the second cooling pipe part may be formed parallel to the length direction of the battery cell.

[0026] The first cooling pipe part and the second cooling pipe part form one cooling pipe unit, and the cooling pipe member may include a plurality of the cooling pipe units.

[0027] The cooling pipe member further includes a refrigerant inlet part and a refrigerant outlet part. The first cooling pipe part is connected to the refrigerant inlet part, and the second cooling pipe part is connected to the refrigerant outlet part.

[0028] It further includes an end plate covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell laminate, and the refrigerant inlet part and the refrigerant outlet part may be formed adjacent to the end plate.

[0029] It further includes a thermally conductive resin layer formed between the upper part of the battery cell laminate and the module frame, and the cooling pipe member can be in contact with the thermally conductive resin layer.

[0030] A battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention may further include a cooling pipe member formed between the lower part of the battery cell laminate and the module frame.

[0031] A battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes the battery module.

Advantages of the Invention

[0032] A battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cooling pipe member formed between a battery cell stack and a module frame, thereby effectively cooling battery cells whose temperature rises in a high-current and rapid charging environment.

[0033] In addition, the internal temperature deviation of the battery module can be minimized, and the stability of the battery module can be improved.

[0034] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains from this specification and the attached drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035]

Figure 1

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Figure 9

Figure 10

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Figure 12

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Figure 15

Figure 16

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0036] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail so that those having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, the present invention can be realized in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0037] To clearly explain the present invention, parts that are unnecessary for the explanation are omitted, and the same reference numerals are given to the same or similar components throughout the specification.

[0038] Also, the sizes and thicknesses of the respective configurations shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown for convenience of explanation, and thus the present invention is not necessarily limited to what is shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses are enlarged to clearly represent a plurality of layers and regions. And in the drawings, for convenience of explanation, the thicknesses of some layers and regions are exaggerated.

[0039] Also, when a part such as a layer, film, region, or plate is "on" or "above" another part, this includes not only the case where it is directly above the other part but also the case where there is another part in between. Conversely, when a part is "directly above" another part, it means that there is no other part in between. Also, being "on" or "above" a reference part means being located above or below the reference part, and it does not necessarily mean being located "on" or "above" in the direction opposite to gravity.

[0040] Also, throughout the specification, when a part "includes" a certain component, this means that, unless otherwise specified to the contrary, it does not exclude other components but can further include other components.

[0041] Also, throughout the specification, when it is said "on a plane", this means when looking at the target part from above, and when it is said "in a cross-section", this means when looking at the cross-section obtained by vertically cutting the target part from the side.

[0042] The first and second terms used in this application can be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

[0043] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, FIGS. 9, 10, and 13, the battery module of the present invention will be described.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing only some components of the battery module of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 4. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a battery cell included in the battery module of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a drawing showing a cross-section cut along the cutting line A - A' of FIG. 4. FIG. 10 is a drawing showing an enlarged view of part B of FIG. 9.

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment includes a battery cell stack 120 in which a plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked, and a module frame 200 that houses the battery cell stack 120.

[0046] The battery cell 110 is preferably a pouch-type battery cell and may be formed in a rectangular sheet-like structure. For example, referring to FIG. 13, the battery cell 110 according to this embodiment has a structure in which two electrode leads 111 and 112 protrude from one end portion 114a and the other end portion 114b of the cell body 113 so as to face each other. That is, the battery cell 110 includes electrode leads 111 and 112 that protrude in directions facing each other. More specifically, the electrode leads 111 and 112 are connected to an electrode assembly (not shown) and protrude to the outside of the battery cell 110 from the electrode assembly (not shown).

[0047] On the one hand, the battery cell 110 can be manufactured by adhering one end portion 114a and the other end portion 114b of the battery cell case 114 and one side portion 114c connecting them with an electrode assembly (not shown) stored in the battery cell case 114. That is, the battery cell 110 according to this embodiment has a total of three sealing portions 114sa, 114sb, and 114sc, and the sealing portions 114sa, 114sb, and 114sc are structured to be sealed by a method such as heat fusion, and the other remaining side portion can be constituted by the connection portion 115. In particular, the sealing portions 114sa, 114sb, and 114sc can include the sealing portion 114sc formed in the length direction of the battery cell and the sealing portions 114sa and 114sb formed in the width direction of the battery cell. At this time, the sealing portion 114sc formed in the length direction of the battery cell is not limited to the shape shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and can include single folding (once folded), non-folding without a folded portion, and various forms of the sealing portion 114sc structure. The battery cell case 114 may be made of a laminate sheet including a resin layer and a metal layer. At this time, the length direction of the battery cell 110 can be defined between one end portion 114a and the other end portion 114b of the battery cell case 114, and the width direction of the battery cell 110 can be defined between one side portion 114c connecting one end portion 114a and the other end portion 114b of the battery cell case 114 and the connection portion 115. Also, the connection portion 115 can extend long along the battery cell 110, and a battery ear 110p may be formed at the end of the connection portion 115. Further, by sealing the battery cell case 114 with the protruding electrode leads 111 and 112 in between, a terrace portion 116 can be formed between the electrode leads 111 and 112 and the cell body 113. That is, the battery cell 110 can include a terrace portion 116 extending and formed from the battery cell case 114 in the direction in which the electrode leads 111 and 112 protrude.

[0048] Such battery cells 110 are configured in plurality, and the plurality of battery cells 110 are stacked so as to be electrically connected to each other to form a battery cell stack 120. In particular, as shown in FIG. 6, the plurality of battery cells 110 may be stacked along a direction parallel to the y-axis. Thereby, the electrode leads 111 and 112 can protrude in the x-axis direction and the -x-axis direction, respectively.

[0049] On the other hand, heat is generated when charging and discharging of the battery cell 110 is repeated, and among them, a large amount of heat is generated in the portions adjacent to the electrode leads 111 and 112. That is, in the electrode leads 111 and 112 together with the portion of the cell body 113, a new structure for cooling the battery cell 110 is required because a large amount of heat can be generated by charging and discharging.

[0050] At this time, in the conventional battery module, the cooling efficiency is reduced by the space occupied by the sealing portion of the battery cell, and there is a problem that it is difficult to utilize the space when applying a thermally conductive resin layer on the upper part.

[0051] Therefore, referring to FIGS. 9, 10, and 13, the battery cell 110 according to the present embodiment includes a sealing portion 114sc formed along the length direction of the battery cell 110, and the sealing portion 114sc is bent at least once or a plurality of times in one direction. The sealing portion 114sc bent a plurality of times may be arranged parallel to the side surface portion of the module frame 200. At this time, the sealing portion 114sc may be arranged parallel to the width direction of the battery cell 110. Further, the sealing portion 114sc may be formed in the entire height direction of the battery module 100. Referring to FIG. 13, the width direction of the battery cell 110 may mean the direction between the sealing portion 114sc and the connection portion 115, or between the sealing portion 114sc and the bottom portion 300a of the U-shaped frame 300.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 10, the sealing portion 114sc that has been bent multiple times can include a first portion 114sc1, a second portion 114sc2, and a third portion 114sc3 that are connected to each other. Also, the first portion 114sc1, the second portion 114sc2, and the third portion 114sc3 may be arranged parallel to each other. The direction in which the first portion 114sc1, the second portion 114sc2, and the third portion 114sc3 are arranged parallel to each other may be parallel to the side surface portion of the module frame 200, or may be parallel to the width direction of the battery cell 110.

[0053] More specifically, the sealing portion 114sc can be formed in a scroll shape having at least one bent portion by being bent at least once or having a plurality of bent portions by being bent multiple times. That is, it can have a single folding structure that is bent at least once or a double folding structure that is bent multiple times. At this time, the scroll shape can mean that the cross-section of the sealing portion 114sc is in the shape of a scroll or a spiral having a bent portion due to the direction in which the sealing portion 114sc is bent multiple times being formed in one direction.

[0054] Also, by being bent as described above, the border portion located at the outermost contour of the sealing portion 114sc can be located at the center of the scroll shape. At this time, the border portion located at the outermost contour can also mean the outermost contour border portion region before the sealing portion 114sc is bent. By being formed to have the scroll shape as described above, the border portion located at the outermost contour can be bent multiple times so as to be located at the center of the scroll shape. At this time, the border portion located at the outermost contour can correspond to the third portion 114sc3 of the sealing portion 114sc that has been bent multiple times.

[0055] By being bent multiple times in one direction as described above, the sealing part 114sc can minimize the space it occupies compared to a conventional sealing part. In particular, by minimizing the space occupied by the sealing part, the heat transfer resistance can be minimized.

[0056] Here, the sealing part 114sc can include a first connecting part 114sc4 that connects the first part 114sc1 and the second part, and a second connecting part 114sc5 that connects the second part 114sc2 and the third part 114sc3.

[0057] At this time, if the length of the first connecting part 114sc4 of the sealing part 114sc is defined as the horizontal length of the sealing part 114sc and the length of the first part 114sc1 is defined as the vertical length of the sealing part 114sc, since the length of the first part 114sc1 is formed longer than the length of the first connecting part 114sc4, the vertical length of the sealing part 114sc is formed longer than the horizontal length of the sealing part 114sc. As a result, not only can the area occupied by the sealing part 114sc at the upper part of the battery cell stack 120 be minimized and the cooling performance be improved, but also the sealing part 114sc can be fixedly formed by the cooling pipe configuration described later.

[0058] On the other hand, the module frame 200 includes a U-shaped frame 300 with an open upper surface, front surface, and rear surface that covers the lower part and both side parts of the battery cell stack 120, and an upper plate 400 that covers the upper part of the battery cell stack 120. At this time, the U-shaped frame 300 can include a bottom part 300a that supports the lower part of the battery cell stack 120 and side surface parts 300b that extend upward from both ends of the bottom part 300a. However, the module frame 200 is not limited to this and can be replaced with other shaped frames such as an L-shaped frame or a monoframe that surrounds the battery cell stack 120 except for the front and rear surfaces. The module frame 200 can physically protect the battery cell stack 120 housed inside the module frame 200.

[0059] The upper plate 400 can cover the open upper surface of the module frame 200. The end plates 150 can cover the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120 that are open in the module frame 200. The end plates 150 can be joined to the front and rear end corners of the upper plate 400 and the front and rear end corners of the module frame 200 by welding. At this time, the end plates can include a front end plate 151 and a rear end plate 152.

[0060] A bus bar frame 130 can be formed between the end plates 150 and the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell stack 120. The bus bar frame 130 can cover the portion of the battery cell stack 120 that is exposed from the module frame 200. Also, a plurality of bus bars 160 mounted on the bus bar frame 130 can be formed to protrude from the battery cells 110 and connected to the electrode leads 111, 112 mounted on the bus bar frame 130. At this time, slots through which the electrode leads 111, 112 pass may be formed in the bus bars 160. Therefore, the electrode leads 111, 112 that have passed through the slots of the bus bars 160 and the bus bars 160 can be in contact.

[0061] Further, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment further includes a first thermally conductive resin layer 310 positioned between the lower surface of the battery cell stack 120 and the bottom of the module frame 200, that is, the bottom 300a of the U-shaped frame 300. The first thermally conductive resin layer 310 can transfer the heat generated from the battery cells 110 to the bottom of the battery module 100 and can serve to fix the battery cell stack 120.

[0062] Furthermore, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment can further include a second thermally conductive resin layer 320 formed between the upper part of the battery cell stack 120 and the upper part of the module frame 200, that is, the upper plate 400. Therefore, the heat generated from the battery cells 110 can also be transferred to the upper part of the module frame 200 through the second thermally conductive resin layer 320.

[0063] In particular, the battery module 100 according to the present embodiment includes a heat transfer path to the upper part of the module frame 200 via the second thermally conductive resin layer 320, rather than a one-way path via the bottom of the module frame 200, and the cooling performance can be improved. At this time, the first thermally conductive resin layer 310 and the second thermally conductive resin layer 320 may be formed by applying and curing a thermally conductive resin. Therefore, although the first thermally conductive resin layer 310 and the second thermally conductive resin layer 320 are shown in a plate shape, they can be freely deformed according to the shape of other components during the curing process after the thermally conductive resin is applied.

[0064] In the conventional battery module, the heat generated from the battery cell was released through the thermally conductive resin layer formed at the lower part of the battery cell. However, there was a problem that the heat generated from the battery cell could not be efficiently cooled only by the thermally conductive resin layer formed at the lower part of the battery cell stack and the cooling structure passing through a one-way path via the bottom of the module frame.

[0065] Therefore, in a situation where high heat generation occurs in a short time in the battery cell due to the flow of a high current such as rapid charging, there is a need for a structure that can effectively cool the heat generation.

[0066] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings referred to above and FIGS. 7 and 8, the first cooling pipe member 500 of the battery module 100 according to the present embodiment will be described more specifically.

[0067] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cooling pipe member included in the battery module of FIG. 4. FIG. 8 is a drawing showing an enlarged part of the cooling pipe member included in the battery module of FIG. 4.

[0068] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the first cooling pipe member 500 of the battery module 100 according to the present embodiment is formed between the upper part of the battery cell stack 120 and the module frame 200. Specifically, the first cooling pipe member 500 may be formed between the battery cell stack 120 and the upper plate 400.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 7, the first cooling pipe member 500 includes a first cooling pipe portion 510 and a second cooling pipe portion 520. At this time, in FIG. 7, it is shown that the first cooling pipe portion 510 is formed on the outermost side of the first cooling pipe member 500 so as to be symmetric with respect to the center of the first cooling pipe member 500. However, it can also include cases where different first cooling pipe portions 510 and second cooling pipe portions 520 are formed on both outermost side surfaces of the first cooling pipe member 500.

[0070] At this time, the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520 can be connected to each other. Therefore, a cooling flow path can be formed along the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520. Also, the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520 may be formed parallel to the length direction of the battery cell 110. Therefore, the cooling flow path formed along the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520 can also be formed parallel to the length direction of the battery cell 110. Through the cooling flow path formed parallel to the length direction of the battery cell 110, a refrigerant or cooling water can flow. That is, the upper surface of the battery cell laminate 120 can be cooled by the refrigerant or cooling water flowing along the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520.

[0071] On the one hand, the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520 can form one cooling pipe unit. At this time, the cooling pipe unit can include the state in which the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520 are connected. Therefore, the cooling pipe unit can include the cooling flow path formed along the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520. At this time, the first cooling pipe member 500 can include a plurality of the cooling pipe units, and thus can include a plurality of first cooling pipe portions 510 and second cooling pipe portions 520. That is, a plurality of the cooling pipe units are formed in the first cooling pipe member 500, and can include a plurality of cooling flow paths. In some cases, the cooling flow paths can be connected to each other by repeating the cooling pipe unit, and one cooling flow path can be formed.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 8, the first cooling pipe member 500 can further include a refrigerant inlet portion 530 and a refrigerant outlet portion 540. The refrigerant inlet portion 530 and the refrigerant outlet portion 540 are formed to be adjacent to the end plate 150, and in particular, are formed to be adjacent to the rear end plate 152. More specifically, they are formed to be adjacent to the upper portion of the rear end plate 152. Also, the refrigerant inlet portion 530 and the refrigerant outlet portion 540 may be present inside the battery module 100, but as shown in FIG. 4, they may also be exposed to the outside.

[0073] At this time, the first cooling pipe portion 510 is connected to the refrigerant inlet portion 530, and the second cooling pipe portion 520 is connected to the refrigerant outlet portion 540. At this time, it is also possible that the first cooling pipe portion 510 is connected to the refrigerant outlet portion 540, and the second cooling pipe portion 520 is connected to the refrigerant inlet portion 530, etc., and they are connected to cross each other. Therefore, in the battery module 100 according to this embodiment, the refrigerant flows in through the refrigerant inlet portion 530, cools the battery cells 110 through the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520, and then the refrigerant can be discharged to the outside of the battery module 100 through the refrigerant outlet portion 540. Also, the flow of the cooling flow path that flows can be formed by the inflow and outflow of the refrigerant.

[0074] On the one hand, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the first cooling pipe member 500 can be in contact with the second thermally conductive resin layer 320. Therefore, an additional heat transfer path can be formed by the contact between the first cooling pipe member 500 and the second thermally conductive resin layer 320. In particular, the heat transferred to the refrigerant flowing along the first cooling pipe member 500 from the battery cell 110 is additionally transferred to the second thermally conductive resin layer 320 and then transferred to the module frame 200. Therefore, by forming a plurality of cooling paths for the battery cell 110, the safety of the battery module 100 can be ensured.

[0075] Also, the first cooling pipe member 500 may be formed adjacent to the sealing portion 114sc. In particular, the sealing portion 114sc can be located between the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520 of the first cooling pipe member 500. Therefore, the sealing portion 114sc does not cause any difficulty in space utilization, and the stability of the battery module can be improved due to the cooling effect of the battery cell 110 through the first cooling pipe member 500. In particular, by locating the sealing portion 114sc between the first cooling pipe portion 510 and the second cooling pipe portion 520, the sealing portion 114sc can be stably fixed.

[0076] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. At this time, since all the contents described above are included in this embodiment, only the different contents will be described.

[0077] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear. FIG. 12 is a drawing showing a cross-section cut along the cutting line C-C' of FIG. 11.

[0078] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the battery module 100 according to this embodiment further includes a second cooling pipe member 600 formed between the lower part of the battery cell laminate 120 and the module frame 200. At this time, although the form is the same, in order to distinguish the first cooling pipe member 500 and the second cooling pipe member 600 according to the formation position, they will be described by referring to the first cooling pipe member 500 and the second cooling pipe member 600.

[0079] The battery module 100 according to this embodiment includes not only the first cooling pipe member 500 formed between the upper part of the battery cell laminate 120 and the module frame 200, but also the second cooling pipe member 600 formed between the lower part of the battery cell laminate 120 and the module frame 200, thereby forming an additional cooling path.

[0080] At this time, the second cooling pipe member 600 can be in contact with the first heat conductive resin layer 310. Also, the second cooling pipe member 600 can include a first cooling pipe part 610 and a second cooling pipe part 620, and can include a refrigerant inlet part 630 and a refrigerant outlet part 640.

[0081] Also, the refrigerant inlet part 630 and the refrigerant outlet part 640 are formed to be adjacent to the rear end plate 152, and more specifically, are formed to be adjacent to the lower part of the rear end plate 152.

[0082] The battery module 100 according to this embodiment can form a plurality of cooling paths for cooling the upper and lower parts of the battery cell laminate 120 by including the first cooling pipe member 500 and the second cooling pipe member 600. Therefore, it is possible to solve the heat generation problem of the battery cell 110 and ensure the safety of the battery module 100.

[0083] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 14 to 16, a sealing part included in a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be additionally described. Since all the contents described above can be included except for the sealing part form, only the contents different from those described above will be described.

[0084] Figures 14 to 16 are drawings showing a sealing portion according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0085] In the battery module 100 according to the present embodiment, the length of the sealing portion 114sc extending upward toward the upper portion of the module frame 200 (i.e., the vertical length of the sealing portion 114sc) is the same as or longer than the length extending along the upper portion of the battery cell 110 (i.e., the horizontal length of the sealing portion 114sc). However, the sealing portion 114sc can have various shapes other than the sealing portion 114sc in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0086] As an example, as shown in FIG. 14, the sealing portion 114sc can have a shape that extends from the upper portion of the battery cell 110 toward the upper portion of the module frame 200 without a bent portion. In this case, the area occupied by the sealing portion 114sc at the upper portion of the battery cell 110 can be minimized. In addition, the entire outer surface of the sealing portion 114sc is surrounded by the second heat conductive resin layer 320. Therefore, the contact area between the upper portion of the battery cell 110 and the second heat conductive resin layer 320 can be maximized, the heat transfer area between the battery cell 110 and the second heat conductive resin layer 320 can be maximized, and the cooling performance of the second heat conductive resin layer 320 with respect to the battery cell 110 can be further improved. Further, the sealing portion 114sc is additionally fixed by the first cooling pipe member 500 and is stably formed.

[0087] As another example, as shown in FIG. 15, the sealing portion 114sc can have a shape that is folded once counterclockwise. In this case, the area of the sealing portion 114sc can be increased compared to FIG. 5, the sealing performance of the battery cell 110 can be improved, and the space utilization within the battery module 100 can be maximized.

[0088] As another example, as shown in FIG. 16, the sealing portion 114sc can have a shape that is folded multiple times. More specifically, the length of the sealing portion 114sc extending toward the upper part of the module frame 200 and the length extending along the upper part of the battery cell 110 are the same as or similar to each other. In this case, the length of the sealing portion 114sc extending toward the upper part of the module frame 200 becomes smaller compared to FIGS. 10, 14, and 15, and the area of the second thermally conductive resin layer 320 located at the upper part of the sealing portion 114sc can be maximized.

[0089] The battery cell 110 of this embodiment can also include sealing portions 114sc having various shapes. Thereby, in the battery cell 110 of this embodiment, the degree of heat transfer between the upper part of the sealing portion 114sc and the second thermally conductive resin layer 320 can be increased, and the cooling performance of the second thermally conductive resin layer 320 with respect to the battery cell 110 can be improved.

[0090] Hereinafter, a battery pack according to still another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0091] The battery pack according to this embodiment includes the battery module described above. In addition, the battery pack of the present invention can have a structure in which one or more battery modules according to this embodiment are assembled and packed with a battery management system (Battery Management System; BMS) for managing the temperature, voltage, etc. of the battery, a cooling device, and the like added.

[0092] The battery pack can be applied to various devices. Such devices are applied to transportation means such as electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is possible to apply the battery pack to various devices that can use the battery module, and this also belongs to the scope of the rights of the present invention.

[0093] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made by those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention pertains without departing from the gist of the invention claimed in the following claims. Of course, such modifications should not be individually understood from the technical idea and perspective of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0094] 100 Battery module 110 Battery cell 120 Battery cell stack 130 Bus bar frame 150 End plate 160 Bus bar 200 Module frame 300 U-shaped frame 400 Upper plate 500 First cooling pipe member 600 Second cooling pipe member

Claims

1. A battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells; A module frame for housing the battery cell stack; and A cooling pipe member formed between an upper portion of the battery cell stack and the module frame; In a battery module including the above, The cooling pipe member includes a first cooling pipe portion and a second cooling pipe portion, The battery cell includes a sealing portion formed along the length direction of the battery cell, and electrode leads of the battery cell are provided at both ends in the length direction of the battery cell, A part of the sealing portion is bent at least once so as to be parallel to the length direction of the battery cell, The bent sealing portion is arranged to be parallel to the extension directions of the first cooling pipe portion and the second cooling pipe portion of the cooling pipe member, a battery module.

2. The battery module according to Claim 1, wherein the sealing portion is located between the first cooling pipe portion and the second cooling pipe portion.

3. The sealing portion is bent a plurality of times in one direction, The battery module according to Claim 1, wherein the sealing portion bent a plurality of times is arranged parallel to a side surface portion of the module frame.

4. The sealing portion includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion coupled to each other, The battery module according to Claim 1, wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion are arranged parallel to each other.

5. The sealing portion further includes a first connecting portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, and a second connecting portion connecting the second portion and the third portion, The battery module according to Claim 4, wherein the length of the first portion is formed longer than the length of the first connecting portion.

6. The first cooling pipe portion and the second cooling pipe portion are connected to each other, The battery module according to Claim 1, wherein a cooling flow path is formed along the first cooling pipe portion and the second cooling pipe portion.

7. The first cooling pipe portion and the second cooling pipe portion form one cooling pipe unit, The battery module according to Claim 1, wherein the cooling pipe member includes a plurality of the cooling pipe units.

8. The cooling pipe member further includes a refrigerant inlet portion and a refrigerant outlet portion, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the first cooling pipe portion is connected to the refrigerant inlet portion, and the second cooling pipe portion is connected to the refrigerant outlet portion.

9. Further comprising an end plate covering the front and rear surfaces of the battery cell laminate, The battery module according to claim 8, wherein the refrigerant inlet portion and the refrigerant outlet portion are formed so as to be adjacent to the end plate.

10. The battery module further includes a thermally conductive resin layer formed between an upper portion of the battery cell laminate and the module frame, The battery module according to claim 1, wherein the cooling pipe member is in contact with the thermally conductive resin layer.

11. The battery module according to claim 1, further comprising a cooling pipe member formed between a lower portion of the battery cell laminate and the module frame.

12. A battery pack including the battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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