Battery module with partition membrane for partitioning the internal space and battery pack including the same

Abstract

The battery module according to the present invention includes a cell assembly having a cell stack consisting of a plurality of battery cells stacked in one direction, a module case that houses the cell assembly therein, and a partition membrane unit that divides an internal space formed between one side portion of the cell assembly where an electrode lead of the battery cell is located and one side portion of the module case facing the cell assembly into left and right portions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, and more particularly to a battery module that, when a fire occurs inside the battery module, minimizes the risk of combustion products, flames, hot air, etc. generated in a ignited battery cell spreading to other battery cells, thereby delaying chain fires of battery cells.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0021342, filed on February 18, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in the specification and drawings thereof. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries have attracted attention as a new energy source that is environmentally friendly and improves energy efficiency, as they not only have the temporary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also have the advantage of not producing any by-products associated with energy use.

[0004] For this reason, secondary batteries are increasingly being applied to a wide range of devices. For example, they are widely used as energy sources for wireless mobile devices and wearable devices, which are small, multi-functional products, and also as energy sources and energy storage systems (ESS) for electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, which are presented as alternatives to existing gasoline and diesel vehicles.

[0005] The most commonly used lithium secondary batteries today have an operating voltage of approximately 2.5 V to 4.5 V. Therefore, in the case of electric vehicles and energy storage systems that require large capacity and high output, a battery module is constructed by connecting multiple secondary batteries in series and / or parallel, and a battery pack is constructed by connecting the battery modules in series and / or parallel, and these battery modules are used as an energy source.

[0006] Depending on the output and capacity of the battery pack required for an electric vehicle, the number of lithium secondary batteries in one battery module may increase, or the number of battery modules in one battery pack may increase.

[0007] However, in the case of a battery pack including a large number of lithium secondary batteries, the damage caused by a fire or explosion is likely to be even greater.

[0008] For example, if an event such as a short circuit between lithium secondary batteries or an abnormal temperature rise occurs in some battery modules, a large amount of vent gas may be generated in the lithium secondary batteries, and as deterioration progresses, high-temperature sparks containing electrode active material and aluminum particles may be emitted along with the vent gas. In this case, the vent gas and high-temperature sparks may cause thermal damage to other nearby secondary batteries. If further events occur in other secondary batteries, the battery module may be engulfed in flames explosively, resulting in insufficient time for users to evacuate. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a battery module that, when a specific battery cell of a battery module catches fire, can minimize the delay of chain fires of battery cells by making it difficult for combustion discharges, flames, hot air, etc. generated in the specific battery cell to spread to other battery cells.

[0010] The technical problems that the present invention aims to solve are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the invention described below. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] A battery module according to the present invention may include a cell assembly having a cell stack consisting of a plurality of battery cells stacked in one direction; a module case that houses the cell assembly therein; and a partition membrane unit that divides an internal space formed between one side of the cell assembly where electrode leads of the battery cells are located and one side of the module case facing the one side of the cell assembly into left and right.

[0012] The partition membrane unit may include a partition plate portion having a width corresponding to the distance between one side portion of the cell assembly and one side portion of the module case and a height corresponding to the height of one side portion of the cell assembly, an upper end fitting plate portion extending a predetermined length from the upper end of the partition plate portion in a direction intersecting the partition plate portion, and a lower end fitting plate portion extending a predetermined length from the lower end of the partition plate portion.

[0013] The partition plate portion is disposed in the internal space, and the upper end fitting plate portion and the lower end fitting plate portion can be disposed so as to contact the upper end and lower end of the cell stack.

[0014] The cell assembly may further include a bus bar frame having a lead slot through which the electrode leads of the battery cells can pass, the bus bar frame being in the shape of a plate covering the front or rear of the cell stack and forming one side of the cell assembly, and a plurality of bus bars arranged on the bus bar frame along the same direction as the stacking direction of the battery cells and electrically connected to the electrode leads.

[0015] The bus bar frame may include a frame groove portion provided between a predetermined bus bar and an adjacent bus bar among the plurality of bus bars, so that one edge portion in the width direction of the partition plate portion can be fitted therein.

[0016] The module case may include a hollow case body having an open end and configured to allow the cell assembly to be inserted longitudinally therein, and a case cover facing one side of the cell assembly and coupled to the open end of the case body.

[0017] The case body may be configured to allow the cell assembly to be longitudinally interference-fitted therewith.

[0018] The case body may include a first assembly guide groove portion provided on the inner surface of the top plate, extending longitudinally from the open end, and formed to correspond to the width and thickness of the upper end fitting plate portion, and a second assembly guide groove portion provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate, extending longitudinally from the open end, and formed to correspond to the width and thickness of the lower end fitting plate portion.

[0019] The partition membrane unit may be configured such that the upper end fitting plate portion and the lower end fitting plate portion are slidably coupled to the first assembly guide groove portion and the second assembly guide groove portion, respectively.

[0020] The case cover may include a cover body that contacts the other edge portion in the width direction of the partition plate portion, an upper cover end formed with a third assembly guide groove portion that slides with the end portion of the upper end fitting plate portion, and a lower cover end formed with a fourth assembly guide groove portion that slides with the end portion of the lower end fitting plate portion.

[0021] The partition membrane unit may be formed such that, based on the partition plate portion, the upper end fitting plate portion has a width that is expanded in a first direction, and the lower end fitting plate portion has a width that is expanded in the direction opposite to the first direction.

[0022] The partition membrane units may be spaced apart from one another in the cell assembly along the stacking direction of the battery cells.

[0023] The partition membrane unit can be detachably mounted on the cell assembly.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, a battery pack may be provided that includes one or more of the battery modules described above.

[0025] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there can be provided a vehicle including the battery pack. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a battery module that, when a specific battery cell of a battery module catches fire, can minimize the delay of chain fires of battery cells by making it difficult for combustion products, flames, hot air, etc. generated in the specific battery cell to spread to other battery cells.

[0027] That is, in the battery module according to the present invention, the remaining space inside the battery module (the space between the cell assembly and the case cover) through which hot air, vent gas, high-temperature particles, flames, etc. generated when a specific battery cell ignites can move is partitioned and separated by a partition membrane unit. Blocked by this partition membrane unit, the hot air, high-temperature particles, flames, etc. generated in the ignited battery cell are less likely to move to other surrounding battery cells, and as a result, chain fires or explosions of battery cells can be prevented or delayed to the greatest extent possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the partition membrane unit of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of assembly of a case body and a partition membrane unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a front view of a cell assembly equipped with a partition membrane unit according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a portion of a cell assembly equipped with a partition membrane unit according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to FIG. 8. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of a battery module according to still another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] 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 claims should not be construed as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as having meanings and concepts corresponding to the technical ideas of the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor himself can appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best explain the invention. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent the entire technical ideas of the present invention, and therefore, various equivalents and modifications that can be substituted therefor may exist at the time of filing this application.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the main components of the battery module of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the partition membrane unit of FIG. 2.

[0031] Referring to the figure, a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a cell assembly 100, a module case 200, and a partition membrane unit 300.

[0032] As will be described in more detail below, in the battery module 10 according to this embodiment, the partition membrane unit 300 separates the remaining internal space (see S1 and S2 in FIG. 6) of the battery module 10, so that when a specific battery cell 111 in the battery module 10 catches fire, the heat, high-temperature particles, flames, etc. generated in the specific battery cell 111 are blocked by the partition membrane unit 300 and are less likely to spread to other battery cells 111. Therefore, in the battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, when a fire occurs internally, chain reaction fires of battery cells 111 can be delayed as much as possible.

[0033] First, regarding the cell assembly 100, which is one of the main components of the battery module 10, the cell assembly 100 may be configured to include a cell stack 110, a bus bar frame 120, and a plurality of bus bars 130.

[0034] The cell stack 110 is an assembly of battery cells 111 formed by stacking a plurality of battery cells 111. That is, as shown in Fig. 2, the cell stack 110 may be composed of a plurality of pouch-type battery cells 111 stacked in one direction (X direction) with their wide surfaces standing upright.

[0035] The pouch-type battery cell 111 includes an electrode assembly, a pouch case that houses the electrode assembly, and a pair of electrode leads 112 that are connected to the electrode assembly and extend to the outside of the pouch case to function as electrode terminals. The pair of electrode leads 112 are extended in opposite directions in the longitudinal direction (±Y direction) of the battery cell 111.

[0036] If necessary, the pouch-type battery cell 111 may have a shape in which the electrode lead 112 is located only at one end in the Y-axis direction, i.e., the end in the +Y-axis direction. Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited in any way by the specific type or shape of such a battery cell 111, and a wide variety of battery cells 111 known at the time of filing of the present invention can be used to configure the cell stack 110 of the present invention.

[0037] The bus bar frame 120 may be injection molded from an electrically insulating material and provided in the shape of a plate having a size that covers the front (+Y direction) or rear (-Y direction) of the cell stack 110. Therefore, in this embodiment, one side portion of the cell assembly 100 may be configured in a shape in which the bus bar frame 120 is attached to the front or rear of the cell stack 110.

[0038] The bus bar frame 120 also includes a plurality of lead slots 122 through which the electrode leads 112 of the pouch-type battery cells 111 can pass in the +Y-axis or -Y-axis direction. The plurality of lead slots 122 may be arranged along the stacking direction (X-direction) of the battery cells 111.

[0039] The bus bar frame 120 in this embodiment is configured to be able to fix multiple bus bars 130, and although not shown, additional components such as connectors and other printed circuit boards (PCBs) may be arranged in the space above the bus bars 130, and may be configured to have a support plate 121 for supporting and fixing the additional components.

[0040] 2, the bus bar frame 120 according to this embodiment may include a frame groove 123 into which a partition plate portion 310 of a partition membrane unit 300 (described later) can be partially fitted between a predetermined bus bar 130 and an adjacent bus bar 130 among the plurality of bus bars 130. That is, the frame groove 123 may be configured so that one edge portion 310a of the partition plate portion 310 in the width direction (-Y direction) can be fitted to a predetermined depth. Furthermore, the support plate 121 includes a cutout 121a so that the protruding support plate 121 does not interfere when one edge portion 310a of the partition plate portion 310 is fitted into the frame groove 123.

[0041] The plurality of bus bars 130 are made of an electrically conductive material, i.e., a metal such as copper, aluminum, or nickel, and the electrode leads 112 of a predetermined number of battery cells 111 are welded and fixed to the surface of a predetermined bus bar 130 for electrical connection. In this embodiment, the bus bar 130 is shaped like a rectangular rod with an opening in the middle to allow the electrode leads 112 to pass through, and is disposed on the bus bar frame 120 so that the opening communicates with the lead slots 122 of the bus bar frame 120. The bus bar 130 is disposed on the bus bar frame 120 in the same direction as the stacking direction of the battery cells 111. The electrode leads 112 of predetermined battery cells 111 are stacked, and pass back and forth through the bus bar frame 120 via the lead slots 122 at corresponding positions to be drawn out to the front of the bus bar 130, and the drawn-out portions may be bent and welded to be fixed to the surface of the bus bar 130.

[0042] The module case 200 is a component for protecting the cell assembly 100 from external impacts and is preferably made of a material with excellent mechanical rigidity. The module case 200 according to this embodiment includes a case body 210 and a case cover 220, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 .

[0043] The case body 210 may have an open end O at both longitudinal ends, and may have a square tubular shape with a hollow interior so that the cell assembly 100 can be inserted into the case body 210 along the longitudinal direction. In other words, the case body 210 may be configured so that the cell assembly 100 can be inserted into the case body 210 by sliding or by interference fit.

[0044] A battery module 10 using such a case body 210 can be configured so that there is almost no gap between the top plate 211 of the case body 210 and the upper end of the cell stack 110, there is almost no gap between the bottom plate 212 of the case body 210 and the lower end of the cell stack 110, and there is almost no gap between both side plates 213, 214 of the case body 210 and both sides of the cell stack 110.

[0045] In particular, the case body 210 of this embodiment includes a first assembly guide groove portion 211a provided on the inner surface of the top plate 211, extending from the open end O along the longitudinal direction (Y direction) and formed to correspond to the width and thickness of the upper end fitting plate portion 320 of the partition membrane unit 300 described later, and a second assembly guide groove portion 212a provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate 212, extending from the open end O along the longitudinal direction and formed to correspond to the width and thickness of the lower end fitting plate portion 330 of the partition membrane unit 300 described later.

[0046] The first assembly guide groove portion 211a and the second assembly guide groove portion 212a can improve the convenience of assembling the partition membrane unit 300. Furthermore, even when the partition membrane unit 300 is attached to the cell assembly 100, it can be configured so that there is almost no gap between the upper end of the cell stack 110 and the top plate 211 of the case body 210, and between the lower end of the cell stack 110 and the bottom plate 212 of the case body 210. Details of this will be described later.

[0047] The case cover 220 may be provided to face one side of the cell assembly 100 where the electrode leads 112 of the battery cells 111 are located, i.e., to prevent a portion where the electrode leads 112 are connected to be fixed to the bus bars 130 on the bus bar frame 120 from being exposed to the outside, and may be provided to be coupled to the open end O of the case body 210. The case cover 220 may be configured, for example, so that the inside is made of an insulating material and the outside is made of a metallic material and is configured to be fixedly coupled to the case body 210 by welding.

[0048] The case cover 220 also includes a cover body 221 that contacts the other widthwise edge portion 310b of the partition plate portion 310, a cover upper end 222 that has a third assembly guide groove portion 222a that slides and engages with the end portion of the upper end fitting plate portion 320, and a cover lower end 223 that has a fourth assembly guide groove portion 223a that slides and engages with the end portion of the lower end fitting plate portion 330.

[0049] The third assembly guide groove portion 222a and the fourth assembly guide groove portion 223a (see Figure 2) are formed coaxially with the first assembly guide groove portion 211a and the second assembly guide groove portion 212a, respectively, and can serve to prevent the other widthwise edge portion 310b of the partition plate portion 310 of the partition membrane unit 300 described later from contacting one surface of the cover body 221 and moving freely in that state.

[0050] On the other hand, although not shown for ease of illustration, the case cover 220 may have holes or slits in parts to expose components that need to be exposed to the outside, such as the positive and negative terminals or connectors of the battery module 10.

[0051] The partition membrane unit 300 is a component for dividing the internal space formed between one side portion of the cell assembly 100 and one side portion of the module case 200 facing it into left and right portions, and serves to divide the internal space so that when a fire occurs inside the battery module 10, hot air, high-temperature particles, flames, etc. generated in the ignited battery cell 111 do not spread to other battery cells 111 through the internal space.

[0052] The partition membrane unit 300 of this embodiment is made of a material (e.g., silicon, mica) that has low thermal conductivity and excellent heat resistance, and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, includes a partition plate portion 310, an upper end fitting plate portion 320, and a lower end fitting plate portion 330, and is arranged in a roughly "⊂" shape so that it can be attached and detached to the cell assembly 100.

[0053] The partition plate 310 may be disposed in the internal space and have a width (D in FIG. 3) corresponding to the distance between one side surface of the cell assembly 100 and one side surface of the module case 200, and a height corresponding to the height of one side surface of the cell assembly 100. In this embodiment, one side surface of the cell assembly 100 is the bus bar frame 120, and one side surface of the module case 200 is the case cover 220.

[0054] The upper end fitting plate portion 320 is formed in the shape of a plate extending a predetermined length from the upper end of the partition plate portion 310 in a direction intersecting with the partition plate portion 310, and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 is formed in the shape of a plate extending a predetermined length from the lower end of the partition plate portion 310 in the same direction as the upper end fitting plate portion 320.

[0055] 2, the partition membrane unit 300 can be attached to the cell assembly 100 by pressing the upper end fitting plate portion 320 and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 into the cell assembly 100 so that they contact the upper and lower ends of the cell stack 110. At this time, one edge portion 310a of the partition plate portion 310 is fitted into the frame groove portion 123 of the bus bar frame 120, and the upper end fitting plate portion 320 and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 are configured to slightly press the upper and lower ends of the cell stack 110, so that the partition membrane unit 300 can be firmly fixed to the cell assembly 100.

[0056] In addition, the partition membrane unit 300 may be configured such that the upper end fitting plate portion 320 and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 are slidably coupled to the first assembly guide groove portion 211a and the second assembly guide groove portion 212a, respectively.

[0057] That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the thickness and width of the upper engaging plate portion 320 may be made to match the first assembly guide groove portion 211a, and the thickness and width of the lower engaging plate portion 330 may be made to match the second assembly guide groove portion 212a, so that the upper engaging plate portion 320 and the lower engaging plate portion 330 may be slidably coupled to the first assembly guide groove portion 211a and the second assembly guide groove portion 212a, respectively.

[0058] With this configuration, even when attaching the partition membrane unit 300 to the cell assembly 100, the cell assembly 100 can be easily inserted into the case body 210, and after insertion, no gaps are created between the upper end of the cell stack 110 and the top plate 211 of the case body 210, and between the lower end of the cell stack 110 and the bottom plate 212 of the case body 210.

[0059] Furthermore, since the upper end fitting plate portion 320 and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 are respectively connected and restrained by the first assembly guide groove portion 211a and the second assembly guide groove portion 212a of the case body 210, even if the pressure of the vent gas acts on the partition plate portion 310 when a fire occurs inside the battery module 10, the partition membrane unit 300 will not rotate or twist.

[0060] Most of the upper end fitting plate portion 320 and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 are configured to be slidably coupled to the first assembly guide groove portion 211a and the second assembly guide groove portion 212a of the case body 210, and the remaining portions are configured to be slidably coupled to the third assembly guide groove portion 222a and the fourth assembly guide groove portion 223a formed in the case cover 220.

[0061] When the remaining portions of the upper end fitting plate portion 320 and the lower end fitting plate portion 330 are slid into the third assembly guide groove portion 222a and the fourth assembly guide groove portion 223a and completely fitted, the other edge portion 310b of the partition plate portion 310 can be configured to vertically contact the inner surface of the case cover 220. According to the above-mentioned embodiment, the partition membrane unit 300 in this embodiment can be made to contact the case cover 220 and have its fixation strengthened.

[0062] Figure 5 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of a battery module 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 7 is a front view of a cell assembly 100 equipped with a partition membrane unit 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] When the partition membrane unit 300 is attached to the cell assembly 100 and then the case body 210 and case cover 220 are combined, the internal space between one side of the cell assembly 100 and the opposing case cover 220 is partitioned and separated into S1 and S2 by the partition membrane unit 300, as shown in Figures 5 to 7. In this case, assuming that an incident occurs in a specific battery cell K as shown in Figure 6, hot air, high-temperature particles, flames, etc. (indicated by F and arrows in Figures 6 and 7) generated in the specific battery cell K are blocked by the partition plate unit 310 and are unable to travel from S1 to S2. Therefore, the battery cells 111 located on the S2 side and their electrode leads 112 and bus bars 130 are less likely to suffer thermal damage, which can delay the time it takes for the battery cells 111 to ignite or explode.

[0064] According to this embodiment, if a specific battery cell 111 catches fire inside the battery module 10, combustion products, flames, hot air, etc. generated in the specific battery cell 111 are less likely to spread to other battery cells 111, thereby preventing an instantaneous explosive chain fire of the battery cells 111. Therefore, when a fire occurs inside the battery module 10, a user of the battery module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention can notice that a fire has occurred before the fire spreads and can evacuate or take measures to extinguish the fire in a safer environment.

[0065] Next, another embodiment of the battery module of the present invention will be briefly described with reference to FIGS.

[0066] Figure 8 is an oblique view showing a portion of a cell assembly 100 equipped with a partition membrane unit 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 9 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing the configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 10 is an oblique view showing the main configuration of a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] The same component numbers as in the previous drawings refer to the same components, and redundant explanations of the same components will be omitted, with the focus being on the differences from the previously described embodiment.

[0068] The battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention differs from the above-described embodiment in that the partition membrane unit 300 has an upper engaging plate portion 320 whose width is expanded in a first direction (-X direction) based on the partition plate portion 310, and a lower engaging plate portion 330 whose width is expanded in a direction opposite to the first direction (+X direction). That is, as shown in Fig. 8, the widths of the upper engaging plate portion 320 and the lower engaging plate portion 330 of the partition membrane unit 300 are opposite to each other, so that the partition membrane unit 300 is roughly "Z" shaped.

[0069] Meanwhile, a battery module according to yet another embodiment of the present invention is configured such that a plurality of partition membrane units 300 are spaced apart in the cell assembly 100 along the stacking direction (X direction) of the battery cells 111. That is, as in the embodiment of Fig. 9, in yet another battery module 10 of the present invention, the internal space formed between one side portion of the cell assembly 100 and the module case 200 facing it may be divided into four spaces by three partition membrane units 300A, 300B, and 300C.

[0070] In this case, in a situation where an event occurs in any one of the battery cells 111, a larger number of battery cells 111 can be protected from heat, high-temperature particles, fire, etc. generated in the battery cell 111 compared to the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7. That is, the internal space formed between one side portion of the cell assembly 100 and the module case 200 facing it is divided into a larger number of spaces by the partition membrane units 300A, 300B, 300C, so that the movement of heat, high-temperature particles, fire, etc. is more effectively restricted. Therefore, the time it takes for thermal damage to spread from the battery cell 111 where the event occurred to other surrounding battery cells 111 can be significantly delayed.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 10, a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a partition membrane unit 300D in which the width and length of the upper end engaging plate portion 320 and the lower end engaging plate portion 330 are expanded compared to the above-described embodiment.

[0072] 10 , the upper and lower engaging plate portions 320 and 330 of the partition membrane unit 300D may be configured such that their lengths correspond to the length of the cell stack 110 and their widths are widened to cover both the left and right sides of the cell stack 110 based on the partition plate portion 310 of the cell stack 110. In this case, since the upper and lower ends of the cell stack 110 are covered by the upper and lower engaging plate portions 320 and 330, when an incident occurs in any battery cell 111, it is possible to more reliably prevent heat, high-temperature particles, flames, etc. generated in the battery cell 111 from spreading to other battery cells 111 via the upper or lower side of the cell stack 110.

[0073] Meanwhile, a battery pack (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include one or more of the above-described battery modules. The battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a master battery management system (BMS) for integrating and controlling the charging and discharging of the one or more battery modules, a current sensor, a fuse, etc., and a pack case for accommodating the above-described components.

[0074] A battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention may be applied to an energy storage device or to a vehicle such as an electric scooter, an electric vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle.

[0075] Although the present invention has been described above using limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited to these, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains within the technical spirit of the present invention and the scope of equivalents of the claims.

[0076] In this specification, directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used, but these terms are used merely for ease of explanation, and it will be obvious to those skilled in the art of the present invention that they may differ depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 10 Battery Module 100 Cell Assembly 110 Cell stack 111 Battery Cells 112 Electrode Lead 120 Busbar Frame 121 Support Plate 121a Incision 122 lead slots 123 Frame groove 130 Busbar 200 Module Case 210 Case body 211 Top plate 211a Guide groove 212 Bottom plate 212a Guide groove 213, 214 Side plate 220 Case Cover 221 Cover body 222 Top of cover 222a Guide groove 223 Bottom edge of cover 223a Guide groove 300 Partition membrane unit 310 Partition plate 310a, 310b marginal portion 320 Upper end fitting plate 330 Lower end fitting plate part K battery cell O open end

Claims

1. a cell assembly including a cell stack consisting of a plurality of battery cells stacked in one direction; a module case that houses the cell assembly therein; a partition membrane unit provided to partition an internal space formed between one side surface of the cell assembly, where an electrode lead of the battery cell is located, and one side surface of the module case facing the cell assembly, into left and right portions along the one direction; Including, The partition membrane unit is a partition plate portion having a width corresponding to the distance between one side surface of the cell assembly and one side surface of the module case and a height corresponding to the height of the one side surface of the cell assembly; an upper end fitting plate portion extending a predetermined length from an upper end of the partition plate portion in a direction intersecting the partition plate portion, and a lower end fitting plate portion extending a predetermined length from a lower end of the partition plate portion; Including, The partition membrane unit is fitted and attached to the cell assembly so that the upper end fitting plate portion contacts the upper end of the cell stack and the lower end fitting plate portion contacts the lower end of the cell stack. Battery module.

2. The partition plate portion is disposed in the internal space, The upper end fitting plate portion and the lower end fitting plate portion are arranged to contact the upper end and the lower end of the cell stack. The battery module according to claim 1 .

3. The cell assembly comprises: a bus bar frame having a lead slot through which the electrode leads of the battery cells can pass, the bus bar frame having a plate-like shape that covers the front or rear of the cell stack and forms one side of the cell assembly; a plurality of bus bars arranged on the bus bar frame along the same direction as the stacking direction of the battery cells and electrically connected to the electrode leads; further comprising: The battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The bus bar frame is a frame groove provided between a predetermined bus bar and an adjacent bus bar among the plurality of bus bars, the frame groove being capable of fitting one edge portion in the width direction of the partition plate into the predetermined bus bar; The battery module according to claim 3 .

5. The module case includes: a hollow case body having an open end and configured to allow the cell assembly to be inserted into the case body along a longitudinal direction; a case cover facing one side of the cell assembly and coupled to the open end of the case body; Including, The battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The case body is configured so that the cell assembly is tightly fitted in the longitudinal direction. The battery module according to claim 5 .

7. The case body includes: a first assembly guide groove portion provided on the inner surface of the top plate, extending from the open end portion along the longitudinal direction, and formed to correspond to the width and thickness of the upper end fitting plate portion; a second assembly guide groove portion provided on the inner surface of the bottom plate, extending from the open end portion along the longitudinal direction, and formed to correspond to the width and thickness of the lower end fitting plate portion; Including, The battery module according to claim 5 .

8. The partition membrane unit is The upper and lower fitting plate portions are configured to be slidably coupled to the first and second assembly guide groove portions, respectively. The battery module according to claim 7.

9. The case cover is a cover body that contacts the other edge portion of the partition plate in the width direction; a cover upper end having a third assembly guide groove formed therein, the third assembly guide groove being slidably coupled with an end of the upper fitting plate; a cover lower end having a fourth assembly guide groove formed therein, the fourth assembly guide groove being slidably coupled with an end of the lower end fitting plate; Including, The battery module according to claim 5 .

10. The partition membrane unit is With the partition plate portion as a reference, the upper end fitting plate portion is formed so that its width is widened on one of the left and right sides, and the lower end fitting plate portion is formed so that its width is widened on the other of the left and right sides. The battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The partition membrane unit is provided in the cell assembly in a plurality of spaces along the stacking direction of the battery cells. The battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The partition membrane unit is detachably provided in the cell assembly. The battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

13. A battery pack comprising the battery module according to claim 1 or 2.

14. A motor vehicle comprising the battery pack of claim 13.

Images