Battery pack, energy storage device including the battery pack, and motor vehicle

Abstract

A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention provides a battery pack with improved safety. The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a battery module having one or more battery cells, and a thermal runaway suppression unit mounted on one side of the battery module and configured to generate positive pressure inside the battery module when an abnormality occurs in any one of the battery cells.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and a vehicle, and more particularly, to a battery pack with improved safety, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0188749 filed on December 27, 2021, and all of the content disclosed in the specification and drawings of the application is incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0003] Secondary batteries having electrical characteristics such as high energy density and easy applicability depending on product groups are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) driven by an electric drive source. Such secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and highly energy-efficient because they not only have the first advantage of significantly reducing the use of fossil fuels but also do not generate any by-products due to energy use.

[0004] Currently widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel cadmium batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, nickel zinc batteries, and the like. The operating voltage of these unit secondary battery cells, i.e., unit battery cells, is about 2.5 to 4.5V. Therefore, when a higher output voltage is required, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in series to form a battery pack. Also, depending on the charge and discharge capacity required for the battery pack, a plurality of battery cells may be connected in parallel to form a battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack can be variously set according to the required output voltage and charge and discharge capacity.

[0005] On the one hand, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series / parallel, generally, a battery module including at least one battery cell is first configured, and other components are added using at least one battery module to configure a battery pack or a battery rack.

[0006] In recent years, with the increasing emphasis on issues such as power shortages and environmentally friendly energy, energy storage devices (ESS: Energy Storage System) for storing the generated electricity have received a lot of attention. Typically, when using such an energy storage device, a power management system such as a smart grid system can be easily constructed, thereby enabling easy adjustment of the power supply and demand in a specific region or city. In addition, with the full-scale commercialization of electric vehicles, such energy storage devices may also be applied to charging stations (electric charging stations, electric charging points) for charging electric vehicles.

[0007] In the case of a battery pack used in such an energy storage device or the like, a plurality of battery modules can be accommodated in the internal space of the pack case. And each battery module can be connected in series and / or in parallel with each other so that the output, capacity, etc. of the battery pack increase. Furthermore, in order to increase the energy density of the battery pack, the battery modules may exist in a state of being densely packed together in a very narrow space.

[0008] At least one battery module constituting a conventional battery pack generally includes a plurality of battery cells stacked on each other and a module housing for accommodating the plurality of battery cells.

[0009] In such a conventional battery pack, when overheating due to an abnormal situation occurs in a specific battery cell among a plurality of battery cells of a battery module, the heat generated in the overheated battery cell is directly transmitted to adjacent battery cells as it is, leading to thermal runaway, and there is a problem that it may lead to a greater danger such as an explosion of adjacent peripheral battery modules.

[0010] In particular, in the case of a conventional battery pack, the pack case is often configured in a box shape or a mono-frame (pipe) shape, and a plurality of battery modules are often accommodated in the internal space of such a pack case. However, in such a configuration of a conventional battery pack, there is a risk of causing a problem that the pack case promotes heat transfer between battery modules. That is, the heat generated from the event module, which is the battery module in which a thermal event has occurred, may be directly transmitted to adjacent battery modules using a method such as heat radiation, or may be transmitted by a heat conduction method through the pack case. In particular, when passing through the pack case, there is a risk of a problem that heat is transmitted to a battery module that is not adjacent to the event module and is far away.

[0011] Therefore, according to the configuration of a conventional battery pack, heat transfer between a plurality of battery modules included inside the pack case is easily performed, so there is a problem that the propagation of thermal runaway cannot be appropriately suppressed. And such propagation of thermal runaway may cause not only failures and damages of the battery pack, but also ignition and fire spread, which may result in great damage.

[0012] Therefore, there is a demand for providing a battery pack that can prevent thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of a battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and an automobile.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0013] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and an automobile that can prevent thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of a battery module.

[0014] However, the technical problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-described problems at all, and other problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention described below.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery pack including a battery module having one or more battery cells, and a thermal runaway suppression unit mounted on one side of the battery module and configured to form a positive pressure inside the battery module when an abnormal situation occurs in any one of the battery cells.

[0016] Preferably, the thermal runaway suppression unit can inject a fire extinguishing agent into the battery module in the event of the abnormal situation.

[0017] Preferably, the thermal runaway suppression unit can maintain the pressure at the central portion inside the battery module higher than the pressure at the edge portion inside the battery module in the event of the abnormal situation by injecting the fire extinguishing agent.

[0018] Preferably, the thermal runaway suppression unit may include a fire extinguishing tank for supplying the fire extinguishing agent, and a fire extinguishing agent supply line connecting the fire extinguishing tank and the battery module and penetrating and mounted on one side of the battery module.

[0019] Preferably, the fire extinguishing agent supply line can be penetrated and mounted on the upper side of the battery module.

[0020] Further, preferably, the fire extinguishing agent supply line can be mounted through the upper central portion of the battery module.

[0021] Further, preferably, the fire extinguishing agent supply line is connected to the fire extinguishing tank and may include a connection line provided with a predetermined length and an injection nozzle provided on the connection line and penetrating the battery module.

[0022] Further, preferably, the fire extinguishing agent supply line may include a line cover capable of covering the connection line.

[0023] Further, preferably, the fire extinguishing agent may be composed of a fire extinguishing gas having a cooling performance.

[0024] Furthermore, the present invention provides an energy storage device characterized by including the battery pack according to the above embodiment.

[0025] Furthermore, the present invention provides an automobile characterized by including the battery pack according to the above embodiment.

Advantages of the Invention

[0026] According to the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery pack capable of preventing thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and an automobile.

[0027] In particular, when heat is generated in a specific battery module due to an event such as thermal runaway, the generated heat can be blocked or delayed as much as possible from being transmitted to other adjacent modules.

[0028] Also, an abnormal situation within a specific battery module caused by an event such as thermal runaway can be directly suppressed.

[0029] Therefore, according to such an aspect of the present invention, the thermal safety of the battery pack can be further improved.

[0030] In addition to these, various other further effects can be achieved by various embodiments of the present invention. Such various effects of the present invention will be described in the column of each embodiment, or the description will be omitted for effects that can be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

[0031] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention and are for the purpose of further understanding the technical idea of the present invention together with the content of the invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be construed as being limited only to the matters described in the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

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BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms and words used in this specification and the claims are not to be construed as limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, and the inventors shall interpret them in accordance with the meaning and concept corresponding to the technical idea of the present invention in accordance with the principle that they can appropriately define the concept of the terms in order to explain the invention in the best way.

[0034] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and there may be various equivalents and modifications that can replace them at the time of this application.

[0035] On the other hand, in this specification, directional indicators such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear can be used, but these terms are only for convenience of explanation, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that they can vary depending on the position of the object to be described and the position of the observer.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the battery pack in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a fire extinguishing agent supply line of the thermal runaway suppression unit of the battery pack in FIG. 2.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the battery pack may include a battery module 100 and a thermal runaway suppression unit 300.

[0038] The battery module 100 includes one or more battery cells 110 (see FIG. 5) and can be configured to store and release energy. Here, each battery cell 110 can mean a secondary battery.

[0039] Also, a plurality of battery modules 100 can be included in a battery pack. In particular, in order to improve the capacity and / or output of the battery pack, etc., as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of battery modules 100 can be included in the battery pack. At this time, the plurality of battery modules 100 can be stacked in at least one direction. For example, in FIGS. 1 and 2, eight battery modules 100 are shown arranged in the X-axis direction (left-right direction).

[0040] An example of a more specific configuration of such a battery module 100 is specifically shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0041] The thermal runaway suppression unit 300 is mounted on one side of the battery module 100 and can be configured to form a positive pressure inside the battery module 100 when an abnormal situation occurs in any one of the battery cells 110.

[0042] In this embodiment, during such an abnormal situation, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 that forms a positive pressure inside the battery module 100 suppresses the intrusion of external air, specifically oxygen, into the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred, so that the further progression of the thermal runaway situation inside the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred can be delayed as much as possible.

[0043] Hereinafter, such a thermal runaway suppression unit 300 will be described more specifically.

[0044] The thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can inject a fire extinguishing agent R (see FIG. 8) into the battery module 100 during the abnormal situation. Thereby, by injecting the fire extinguishing agent R, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can directly suppress abnormal situations such as fires inside the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred.

[0045] Here, the fire extinguishing agent R can be composed of a fire extinguishing gas having a cooling performance. For example, the fire extinguishing agent R can be configured to include nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. that are non-reactive and have an asphyxiating effect and a cooling effect.

[0046] Thereby, in this embodiment, during the abnormal situation, by directly performing asphyxiating fire extinguishing and cooling fire extinguishing inside the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred, a fire situation or the like can be suppressed more favorably and quickly.

[0047] The thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can maintain the pressure P1 (see FIG. 9) at the central part inside the battery module 100 to be higher than the pressure P2 (see FIG. 9) at the edge part inside the battery module 100 by injecting the fire extinguishing agent R during the abnormal situation.

[0048] Thereby, in this embodiment, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can more effectively form and sustain a positive pressure inside the battery module 100. Here, the injection of the fire extinguishing agent R can be performed for up to about 10 minutes from the time when the occurrence of the abnormal situation is detected and injection is started.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, by continuously forming a positive pressure inside the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred for about 2 to 10 minutes, the inflow of external air such as oxygen into the high-temperature battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred can be effectively blocked. Thereby, while suppressing the situation inside the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred, the transfer of heat to the adjacent battery module 100 side can be suppressed as much as possible.

[0050] Such a thermal runaway suppression unit 300 may include a fire extinguishing tank 310 and a fire extinguishing agent supply line 330.

[0051] The fire extinguishing tank 310 is for supplying the fire extinguishing agent R, and may be provided outside the battery pack or mounted on one side of the battery pack. Such a fire extinguishing tank 310 may be provided with a storage space for storing the fire extinguishing agent R.

[0052] The fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 connects the fire extinguishing tank 310 and the battery module 100, and may be mounted through one side of the battery module 100. Specifically, the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 is connected to each of the plurality of battery modules 100 and can connect the plurality of battery modules 100 and the fire extinguishing tank 310.

[0053] The fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 may be mounted through the upper side of the battery module 100. Specifically, the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 may be mounted through the upper side of each of the plurality of battery modules 100. More specifically, the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 may be mounted through the upper central portion of each of the plurality of battery modules 100.

[0054] Such a fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 may include a connection line 332 and an injection nozzle 336.

[0055] The connection line 332 is connected to the fire extinguishing tank 310 and may have a predetermined length. The length of the connection line 332 may be designed in consideration of the number of the plurality of battery modules 100 and the position of the fire extinguishing tank 310.

[0056] Such a connection line 332 may be provided with an internal flow path for the flow of the fire extinguishing agent R. The internal flow path may communicate with the fire extinguishing tank 310 and an injection nozzle 336 described later.

[0057] The injection nozzle 336 is provided on the connection line 332 and can penetrate through the battery module 100. Such an injection nozzle 336 communicates with the internal flow path of the connection line 332 and can inject the fire extinguishing agent R into the battery module 100.

[0058] There may be a plurality of the injection nozzles 336. The plurality of injection nozzles 336 are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other along the connection line 332 and can be mounted through each of the plurality of battery modules 100.

[0059] On the other hand, the injection nozzle 336 may include a glass sphere. The glass sphere 333 is configured to cover the injection hole of the injection nozzle 336 so as to seal the internal flow path of the injection nozzle 336. However, when the inside of the battery module 100 reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, at least a part thereof may be damaged to open the internal flow path and the injection hole.

[0060] Such a glass sphere is filled with a predetermined substance such as a predetermined liquid or gas inside. Such a predetermined substance may have a property that its volume increases as the temperature rises.

[0061] Specifically, the glass sphere cracks, melts, or detaches from the injection nozzle 336 at a predetermined temperature, for example, 70 to 100 degrees Celsius or higher, due to the volume expansion of the predetermined substance, thereby opening the injection hole and guiding the injection of the fire extinguishing agent R into the battery module 100.

[0062] The fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 may further include a line cover 338.

[0063] The line cover 338 may be provided to cover the connection line 332. Specifically, the line cover 338 may be provided to cover a part of the connection line 332 corresponding to one side of the battery module 100. More specifically, the line cover 338 may be provided to cover a part of the connection line 332 disposed on the upper side of the battery module 100.

[0064] Such a line cover 338 can prevent damage or breakage of the connection line 332 that may be caused by an external impact or the like. Further, the line cover 338 can prevent the external outflow of the fire extinguishing agent R that may flow out due to damage or breakage of the connection line 332.

[0065] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one battery module included in a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view showing a shape in which a partial configuration of FIG. 4 is separated or removed, and FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the inside of the battery module in the battery pack of FIG. 1.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6 and FIGS. 1 to 3 above, the battery module 100 may include battery cells 110 (secondary batteries).

[0067] Here, the battery cell 110 may include an electrode assembly, an electrolytic solution (electrolyte), and a battery case. Although a pouch-type secondary battery is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, other forms of secondary batteries, for example, cylindrical batteries or square batteries may be included in the battery module 100.

[0068] There may be a plurality of such secondary batteries. For example, as shown in the figure, a plurality of pouch-type secondary batteries may be laid and stacked in the vertical direction to form a cell assembly. At this time, the electrode leads 111 of each battery may be in direct contact with each other, or may be electrically connected via a bus bar or the like.

[0069] Further, the battery module 100 may include module terminals 140. For example, in the battery module 100, electrode leads 111 of each battery cell 110 may be positioned on the front and / or rear sides, and module terminals 140 electrically connected to the electrode leads 111 may be positioned.

[0070] In particular, the module terminals 140 may be positioned on the front and / or rear sides of the battery module 100 and may be configured to protrude forward and / or rearward. Further, each battery module 100 may include a positive electrode module terminal (+) and a negative electrode module terminal (-) as the module terminals 140. At this time, the positive electrode module terminal (+) and the negative electrode module terminal (-) may be positioned on the same side surface of the battery module 100, for example, on the front (-Y-axis direction) side surface as shown in the figure.

[0071] Such module terminals 140 enable the secondary battery (battery cell 110) included in the battery module 100 to be electrically connected to other components outside the battery module 100, for example, other battery modules 100.

[0072] The battery module 100 may include a module case 120 and a bus bar assembly 130.

[0073] Here, the module case 120 may be configured to accommodate one or more secondary batteries in an internal space. For example, as shown in the figure, the module case 120 may include an upper plate 121, a lower plate 122, and side plates 123. Then, such a plurality of plates may be coupled to each other to accommodate a battery assembly in a limited internal space.

[0074] Here, some plates included in the module case 120, for example, the lower plate 122 and the side plates 123 (left side plate, right side plate), may be configured to be integrated with each other. In this case, the integrated form of the lower plate 122 and the side plates 123 may be substantially U-shaped.

[0075] Alternatively, the lower plate 122, the side plate 123, and the upper plate 121 may be configured in a tubular monoframe form integrated with each other. Each plate of such a module case 120 can limit an internal space while being coupled to each other. And a cell assembly can be accommodated in such an internal space.

[0076] The module case 120 may include a nozzle mounting portion 125 for mounting through the injection nozzle 336 of the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330. Specifically, the nozzle mounting portion 125 may be provided on the upper plate 121. More specifically, the nozzle mounting portion 125 may be provided at the upper central portion of the upper plate 121.

[0077] Through such a nozzle mounting portion 125, the injection nozzle 336 of the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 penetrates into the module case 120, and when the abnormal situation occurs, the fire extinguishing agent R (see FIG. 8) can be injected into the interior of the module case 120.

[0078] The module case 120 may be configured such that at least one side is open. And the electrode lead 111 of the cell assembly may be positioned at such an open portion.

[0079] In particular, the battery module 100 may include a bus bar assembly 130, so that it can be coupled to the open portion of the module case 120. For example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bus bar assembly 130 may be coupled to the open portions in the front and rear of the module case 120. The electrode leads 111 of the battery assembly may be positioned at the front and rear portions of such a module case 120.

[0080] In addition, the bus bar assembly 130 can be coupled to the electrode lead 111. As a more specific example, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bus bar assembly 130 can include a bus bar housing 131 and a module bus bar 132.

[0081] Here, the bus bar housing 131 can be made of an electrically insulating material, such as a plastic material. Also, the bus bar housing 131 can be configured such that the module bus bar 132 is placed and fixed thereon.

[0082] Also, the module bus bar 132 can be made of an electrically conductive material, such as a metal material. Further, the module bus bar 132 can be configured to electrically connect between two or more electrode leads 111, or to be connected to one or more electrode leads 111 to transmit sensing information to a control unit such as a battery management system (BMS).

[0083] Thus, in the case of the battery module 100 included in the battery pack according to the present invention, only the front side and the rear side where a specific part, for example, the bus bar assembly 130 is located can be opened, and the remaining part can be configured to be sealed.

[0084] In this case, when vent gas or the like is generated inside the battery module 100, the vent gas or the like can be guided to be discharged only to the open portions of the module case 120, for example, the front side and the rear side where the bus bar assembly 130 is located. In particular, slits can be formed in the bus bar assembly 130 so that the electrode leads 111 can pass through.

[0085] The pack case 200 can be provided on at least one side of the plurality of battery modules 100. Also, the pack case 200 can be configured to cover at least a part of the outside of such battery modules 100.

[0086] Furthermore, the pack case 200 may be configured to limit an internal space and accommodate a plurality of battery modules 100 in the internal space. That is, the pack case 200 may be configured to surround at least a part of the outside of the battery module 100 stack.

[0087] For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pack case 200 may include a front case 210, a rear case 220, and a side case 230. In this case, it can be said that the pack case 200 covers the corresponding part of the battery module 100 stack by being located at the front end portion, the rear end portion, and the left end portion of the battery module 100 stack.

[0088] A pack terminal may be provided on at least one side of such a pack case 200. Such a pack terminal can function as a terminal for exchanging power between the battery pack and an external charging device or discharging device.

[0089] The pack case 200 may be configured to guide gas when gas is generated from one or more of the plurality of battery modules 100 included in the battery pack. In particular, the pack case 200 can guide the discharge direction of the gas by allowing the vent gas to flow along the inner surface.

[0090] In this case, at least a part of the pack case 200 can be said to function as a duct in the battery pack. Further, at least one side of the pack case 200 may be formed with a discharge port H1 so that the vent gas is discharged to the outside.

[0091] In such a configuration, the pack case 200 may include a melting member configured to be melted by the vent gas discharged from the battery module 100. That is, the vent gas discharged from the battery module 100 may be a high-temperature gas.

[0092] Furthermore, the vent gas discharged from the battery module 100 may contain flames, sparks, high-temperature electrodes, active material particles, etc. Therefore, the melting member may melt by coming into contact with or adjacent to such high-temperature vent gas.

[0093] Figures 7 to 9 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the thermal runaway suppression unit when an abnormal situation occurs in any one of the battery modules of the battery pack in FIG. 1.

[0094] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, in a specific battery module 100 of the battery pack, a thermal event may occur in response to an abnormal situation such as overheating. At this time, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 may inject the fire extinguishing agent R into the specific battery module 100 in which the abnormal situation has occurred.

[0095] Specifically, the fire extinguishing tank 310 of the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 may supply the fire extinguishing agent R to the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330. Thereafter, the fire extinguishing agent R that has moved along the internal flow path of the connection line 332 of the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330 may be injected into the specific battery module 100 in which the abnormal situation has occurred through the injection nozzle 336 that penetrates and is mounted on the specific battery module 100 in the fire extinguishing agent supply line 330.

[0096] Here, since the injection nozzle 336 is provided at the upper central portion of the battery module 100, the fire extinguishing agent R is injected from the upper central portion of the battery module 100 and can move toward the lower side and both side edge portions inside the battery module 100.

[0097] When injecting the fire extinguishing agent R through the injection nozzle 336, inside the battery module 100, the pressure P1 at the central part inside the battery module 100 where the injection nozzle 336 is provided is maintained higher than the pressure P2 at both side edge parts inside the battery module 100, and a positive pressure can be formed inside the battery module 100.

[0098] Here, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can be controlled to form and maintain a positive pressure inside the specific battery module 100 from the occurrence or detection of a thermal event in the specific battery module 100 as described above until about 10 minutes.

[0099] Thereby, in this embodiment, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can extremely suppress the inflow of external air such as oxygen into the battery module 100 through both side edge parts of the battery module 100, and thereby can extremely suppress a larger fire, explosion, etc. that may be caused by such an inflow of oxygen.

[0100] Furthermore, in this embodiment, by directly injecting the fire extinguishing agent R into the battery module 100, the inside of the battery module 100 where the abnormal situation has occurred can be self-cooled and extinguished, and an abnormal situation such as a fire can be suppressed more quickly and directly.

[0101] Therefore, in this embodiment, the thermal runaway suppression unit 300 can effectively prevent thermal runaway from occurring in the battery module 100 adjacent to the battery module 100 where an abnormal situation has occurred.

[0102] The battery pack according to the present invention may further include various other components of a battery pack known at the time of filing the application of the present invention. For example, the battery pack according to the present invention may further include components such as a battery management system (Battery Management System: BMS), a current sensor, and a fuse.

[0103] The energy storage device according to the present invention may include one or more battery packs according to the present invention. In particular, since the energy storage device has an enormous energy capacity, a plurality of battery packs according to the present invention can be included in a form in which they are electrically connected to each other.

[0104] The energy storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention may be an industrial energy storage device or a household or office (building) energy storage device used for storing energy in a household, office building, or the like.

[0105] In addition to this, the energy storage device according to the present invention may further include various other components of known energy storage devices at the time of filing the present invention. Furthermore, such an energy storage device can be used in various places and devices such as a smart grid system and an electric charging station.

[0106] Also, the vehicle according to the present invention may include one or more battery packs according to the present invention. And the vehicle according to the present invention may further include various other components included in the vehicle in addition to the battery pack. For example, the vehicle according to the present invention may further include a vehicle body, a motor, a control device such as an electronic control unit (ECU), etc. in addition to the battery pack according to the present invention.

[0107] According to the various embodiments as described above, it is possible to provide a battery pack capable of preventing thermal runaway in the event of an abnormal situation of the battery module 100, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and a vehicle.

[0108] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that 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 claims. Such modifications should not be understood individually from the technical idea and prospects of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0109] 100 Battery module 110 Battery cell 111 Electrode lead 120 Module case 121 Upper plate 122 Lower plate 123 Side plate 125 Nozzle mounting portion 130 Busbar assembly 131 Busbar housing 132 Module busbar 140 Module terminal 200 Pack case 210 Front case 220 Rear case 230 Side case 300 Thermal runaway suppression unit 310 Fire extinguishing tank 330 Fire extinguishing agent supply line 332 Connection line 333 Glass sphere 336 Injection nozzle 338 Line cover H1 Exhaust port P1 Pressure P2 Pressure R Fire extinguishing agent

Claims

1. A battery module having one or more battery cells, a thermal runaway suppression unit mounted on one side of the battery module and configured to form a positive pressure inside the battery module when an abnormal situation occurs in any one of the battery cells, In a battery pack including: The thermal runaway suppression unit is: When the abnormal situation occurs, an extinguishing agent is injected into the battery module, The thermal runaway suppression unit is: A battery pack that maintains the pressure at the center inside the battery module higher than the pressure at the edge inside the battery module during the abnormal situation by injecting the extinguishing agent.

2. The thermal runaway suppression unit is: An extinguishing tank for supplying the extinguishing agent, An extinguishing agent supply line connecting the extinguishing tank and the battery module, the extinguishing agent supply line being mounted through one side of the battery module, The battery pack according to Claim 1, including:

3. The extinguishing agent supply line is: The battery pack according to Claim 2, which is mounted through the upper side of the battery module.

4. The extinguishing agent supply line is: The battery pack according to Claim 3, which is mounted through the central part of the upper side of the battery module.

5. The extinguishing agent supply line is: A connection line connected to the extinguishing tank, the connection line provided with a predetermined length, An injection nozzle provided on the connection line, the injection nozzle passing through the battery module, The battery pack according to Claim 2, including:

6. The extinguishing agent supply line is: The battery pack according to Claim 5, including a line cover capable of covering the connection line.

7. The extinguishing agent is: The battery pack according to Claim 1, which is composed of an extinguishing gas having a cooling performance.

8. An energy storage device including the battery pack according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

9. An automobile including the battery pack according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

Images