Battery rack and power storage device including same

Abstract

To provide a battery rack and a power storage device including the same that can increase the connection efficiency between battery module terminals.SOLUTION: A battery rack according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a rack case, and a first battery module assembly and a second battery module assembly including a plurality of battery modules stacked along the vertical direction of the rack case, and in the rack case, the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly are arranged upside down with respect to the arrangement of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery rack and a power storage device including the same.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0111599, filed on September 9, 2019, and the entire contents disclosed in the specification and drawings of that application are incorporated herein by reference. [Background technology]

[0003] Secondary batteries, which have high applicability to various products and electrical properties such as high energy density, are widely used not only in portable devices but also in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which are powered by electrical sources. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new energy source because they not only have the primary advantage of dramatically reducing the use of fossil fuels, but also because they are environmentally friendly and improve energy efficiency by producing no by-products associated with energy use.

[0004] Currently, widely used types of secondary batteries include lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, nickel-cadmium batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, and nickel-zinc batteries. The operating voltage of such unit secondary battery cells, i.e., unit battery cells, is approximately 2.5V to 4.5V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack is constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Alternatively, a battery pack can be constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel depending on the required charge / discharge capacity of the battery pack. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack can be variously set depending on the required output voltage or charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] In addition, when configuring a battery pack by connecting a plurality of battery cells in series and parallel, it is common to first configure a battery module including at least one battery cell, and then use this at least one battery module to add other components to configure a battery pack or battery rack.Here, a power storage device may be configured having at least one battery rack including at least one battery module depending on various voltage and capacity requirements.

[0006] A conventional battery rack includes a plurality of battery modules and a rack case for accommodating the plurality of battery modules. The plurality of battery modules are typically arranged in a vertically stacked manner in a row along the vertical direction of the rack case, and are electrically connected to each other by busbar units that connect terminals of the battery modules within the rack case for electrical connection therebetween.

[0007] Meanwhile, in response to recent customer demands, the capacity of battery racks is rapidly increasing. As a result, when multiple battery modules are vertically stacked in a rack case, there is an increasing need for a two-row vertical stacking structure instead of a single row.

[0008] However, in such a two-row vertically stacked structure of a plurality of battery modules, there is a problem in that it is not easy to connect the terminals of these battery modules. In the past, in a two-row vertically stacked structure, a busbar unit that was quite long and bent in multiple stages or extended diagonally was required to electrically connect the terminals of one battery module to the terminals of the other battery module. This resulted in a problem in that the overall electrical connection of the battery modules required a complex configuration, which was detrimental to space utilization. Furthermore, such a busbar unit resulted in problems such as increased manufacturing costs and an increase in the overall assembly process time.

[0009] Therefore, it is necessary to find a solution to provide a battery rack and a power storage device including the same that can improve the connection efficiency between the terminals of the battery modules and reduce manufacturing costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a battery rack capable of improving the efficiency of connecting terminals of battery modules and a power storage device including the battery rack.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery rack and a power storage device including the same that can reduce manufacturing costs and improve the efficiency of the assembly process. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The battery rack of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises: a rack case having a predetermined storage space; a first battery module assembly disposed within the rack case and including a plurality of battery modules stacked along a vertical direction of the rack case; a second battery module assembly including a plurality of battery modules stacked along a vertical direction of the rack case and spaced a predetermined distance from the first battery module assembly, The plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly are arranged upside down in the rack case based on the arrangement of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly.

[0013] The battery rack may include a bus bar unit that electrically connects the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly and the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly.

[0014] The busbar unit may be provided in the form of a straight bar.

[0015] The busbar unit may include a plurality of first busbar members interconnecting the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly, a plurality of second busbar members interconnecting the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly, and a connecting busbar member interconnecting the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly.

[0016] The connecting bus bar member may interconnect the lowermost battery module of the first battery module assembly and the lowermost battery module of the second battery module assembly. The connecting bus bar member may have a linear bar shape and may connect the lowermost battery module of the first battery module assembly and the lowermost battery module of the second battery module assembly to each other in the horizontal direction of the rack case.

[0017] Each of the plurality of battery modules may include at least one battery cell, a module case that houses the at least one battery cell, and a positive terminal and a negative terminal that are provided on one side of the module case and electrically connected to the at least one battery cell.

[0018] The positive electrode terminal and the negative electrode terminal may be disposed in a vertical direction from one end of the module case.

[0019] Each of the plurality of battery modules may include an identification member provided in the module case for identifying whether the battery module is arranged in a normal or reverse direction in the vertical direction of the rack case.

[0020] Each of the plurality of battery modules comprises: The battery may include at least two or more cell assemblies having a plurality of battery cells, and a battery management system configured to control charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells.

[0021] Furthermore, the battery rack The battery management system may further include a central controller configured to receive status information of the battery modules from a battery management system provided in each of the battery modules and to control charging and discharging of the battery modules.

[0022] The battery rack is a cooling fan provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and configured to take in outside air into the battery module; and a fan power cable configured to supply power for driving the cooling fan.

[0023] Furthermore, the fan power cable a power supply unit electrically connected to the central control unit to supply power to the cooling fan; a connector unit branching out in left and right directions toward the plurality of battery modules included in each of the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly, and configured to connect to an external power supply terminal of the cooling fan.

[0024] The connector unit for the fan power cable is a first connector unit branching to each of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly; a second connector unit branching off from each of the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly.

[0025] Furthermore, the battery rack may further include a communication cable configured to exchange communication signals between a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and the central control unit.

[0026] The communication cable includes: a connection portion extending along the stacked battery modules of the first battery module assembly or the second battery module assembly and configured to connect to a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules; an extension portion extending to connect the battery management systems provided in each of the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly, The extension may have a structure extending from a lowermost battery module of the first battery module assembly to be connected to a lowermost battery module of the second battery module assembly.

[0027] The present invention further provides a power storage device, characterized in that it includes at least one battery rack according to the above-described embodiment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0028] According to the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a battery rack capable of improving the efficiency of terminal connection of battery modules and a power storage device including the same.

[0029] Furthermore, through the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a battery rack and a power storage device including the same that can reduce manufacturing costs and improve the efficiency of the assembly process.

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

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery rack according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram illustrating a battery module of a first battery module assembly of the battery rack of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram illustrating a battery module of a second battery module assembly of the battery rack of FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the assembly process of the battery rack of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the assembly process of the battery rack of FIG. 1. [Figure 6] 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the assembly process of the battery rack of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the assembly process of the battery rack of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining the assembly process of the battery rack of FIG. 1. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] 1 is a diagram illustrating a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described herein are illustrative to facilitate understanding of the invention, and it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms different from the embodiments described herein. In addition, to facilitate understanding of the invention, the accompanying drawings may not be drawn to scale, and some components may be exaggerated or omitted, or may be shown schematically.

[0033] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery rack according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a battery module of a first battery module assembly of the battery rack of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a battery module of a second battery module assembly of the battery rack of FIG. 1.

[0034] 1 to 3, the battery rack 10 may include a rack case 100, a first battery module assembly 200, a second battery module assembly 205, and a busbar unit 300.

[0035] The rack case 100 is for accommodating a first battery module assembly 200 and a second battery module assembly 205, which will be described later, and may be provided with a predetermined accommodating space for this purpose.

[0036] The first battery module assembly 200 is disposed in the rack case 100 and may include a plurality of battery modules 250 .

[0037] The plurality of battery modules 250 may be stacked vertically in the rack case 100 along the vertical direction of the rack case 100. Each of the battery modules 250 may include a battery cell 251, a module case 253, a positive terminal 255, and a negative terminal 257.

[0038] The battery cell 251 is a secondary battery and may be provided as a pouch-type secondary battery, a prismatic secondary battery, or a cylindrical secondary battery. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the battery cell 251 will be described as a pouch-type secondary battery.

[0039] The battery cell 251 may be provided in a plurality of pieces, such as at least one battery cell 251. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, the battery cell 251 will be described only in the case where the battery cell 251 is provided in a plurality of pieces.

[0040] The module case 253 may accommodate at least one or more battery cells 251. To this end, the module case 253 may be provided with an accommodating space for accommodating the battery cells 251.

[0041] The positive terminal 255 may be electrically connected to the at least one or more battery cells 251 and may be provided on one side of the module case 253. Specifically, the positive terminal 255 may be disposed at the front of one end of the module case 253.

[0042] The negative electrode terminal 257 may be electrically connected to the at least one or more battery cells 251 and may be provided on one side of the module case 253. Specifically, the negative electrode terminal 257 may be disposed in front of one end of the module case 253 and may be disposed vertically with the positive electrode terminal 255 at one end of the module case 253.

[0043] In this embodiment, in each of the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200, the positive terminal 255 may be disposed above the negative terminal 257 in the vertical direction of the rack case 100.

[0044] The second battery module assembly 205 may be disposed at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction from the first battery module assembly 200. The second battery module assembly 205 may include a plurality of battery modules 250 stacked vertically along the up-down direction of the rack case 100.

[0045] The second battery module assembly 205 and the first battery module assembly 200 may form a two-row vertically stacked arrangement structure within the rack case 100. As a result, the battery rack 10 according to this embodiment may be realized as a large-capacity battery rack 10 having a higher energy density.

[0046] Furthermore, the plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 may include battery cells 251 , a module case 253 , a positive terminal 255 and a negative terminal 257 .

[0047] The plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 are arranged in the rack case 100 in an upside-down manner based on the arrangement of the plurality of battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200.

[0048] Accordingly, in the case of the plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205, the positive electrode terminal 255 may be disposed below the negative electrode terminal 257 in the vertical direction of the rack case 100. Conversely, in the case of the plurality of battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200, the positive electrode terminal 255 may be disposed above the negative electrode terminal 257 in the vertical direction of the rack case 100.

[0049] That is, the plurality of battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 may be arranged in a forward direction in the vertical direction of the rack case 100, and the plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 may be arranged in an opposite direction in the vertical direction of the rack case 100. Here, the forward direction refers to a direction in which the positive terminal 255 is arranged above the negative terminal 257 in the vertical direction of the rack case 100, and the opposite direction refers to a direction in which the positive terminal 255 is arranged below the negative terminal 257 in the vertical direction of the rack case 100.

[0050] With this arrangement, the positive and negative terminals 255 and 257 of the battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 arranged on the right side of the first battery module assembly 200 are arranged in front of the left end of the module case 253, and the positive and negative terminals 255 and 257 of the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 are arranged in front of the right end of the module case 253, so that the terminals 255, 257 can be arranged closer to each other.

[0051] The bus bar unit 300 may electrically connect the plurality of battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 and the plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 .

[0052] The bus bar unit 300 may include a first bus bar member 310, a second bus bar member 330, and a connecting bus bar member 350.

[0053] The first bus bar member 310 may have a linear bar shape extending elongated in one direction, and a plurality of first bus bar members 310 may be provided to connect the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 to each other.

[0054] The second bus bar member 330 may have a linear bar shape extending long in one direction, similar to the first bus bar member 310, and may be provided in plurality. The plurality of second bus bar members 330 may connect the plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 to each other.

[0055] The connecting bus bar member 350 may have a straight bar shape extending in one direction, like the first bus bar member 310 and the second bus bar member 330. That is, in this embodiment, the first bus bar member 310, the second bus bar member 330, and the connecting bus bar member 350 may all have a straight bar shape. As a result, in this embodiment, the bus bar unit 300 may have the same straight bar shape. In other words, the bus bar unit has a simple shape rather than a complex bent shape.

[0056] The connecting bus bar member 350 may interconnect the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205. Specifically, the connecting bus bar member 350 may interconnect the lowest battery module 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 and the lowest battery module 250 of the second battery module assembly 205. More specifically, the connecting bus bar member 350 may interconnect the negative electrode terminal 257 of the lowest battery module 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 and the positive electrode terminal 255 of the lowest battery module 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 in the horizontal direction of the rack case 100.

[0057] In this case, the battery module 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 has a positive electrode terminal 255 and a negative electrode terminal 257 formed at the front of the right end, and the battery module 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 has a negative electrode terminal 257 and a positive electrode terminal 255 formed at the front of the left end. As a result, the negative electrode terminal 257 of the battery module 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 may be positioned adjacent to the positive electrode terminal 255 of the battery module 250 of the second battery module assembly 205.

[0058] Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly are arranged upside down in the rack case based on the arrangement of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly, thereby minimizing the length of the connecting bus bar member 350 connecting the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205 to each other.

[0059] That is, in the prior art, when the first and second battery module assemblies arranged in the left-right direction in a rack case have the same arrangement pattern, the electrode terminals of each battery module are formed far apart and biased to one side of the battery module, which requires the connecting bus bar members of the prior art to be made longer by the left-right length of the battery modules. Furthermore, such long connecting bus bar members not only increase material costs but also block the front of the battery modules after installation, causing inconvenience to workers using the battery modules. Therefore, the battery rack of the present invention can dramatically reduce the length of the connecting bus bar members, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of the battery rack and significantly improving convenience of use.

[0060] The assembly process of the battery rack 10 according to this embodiment will now be described in more detail.

[0061] 4 to 8 are diagrams for explaining the assembly process of the battery rack of FIG.

[0062] 4, in the assembly process of the battery rack 10, a manufacturer may first vertically stack the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 in the rack case 100. Here, the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 may be arranged in a forward direction in the up-down direction of the rack case 100.

[0063] 5 and 6 , the manufacturer may vertically stack the battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 in the rack case 100. Here, the manufacturer may first turn the battery modules 250 upside down before stacking the battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205. That is, the manufacturer may arrange the battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 in the upside down position, and then vertically stack the battery modules 250 in the rack case 100.

[0064] By vertically stacking the second battery module assemblies 205, the first battery module assemblies 200 and the second battery module assemblies 205 may be arranged in two rows in the rack case 100 in a vertically stacked structure.

[0065] Referring to Figures 7 and 8, once the stacking of the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205 is completed, the manufacturer may electrically connect the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205 via the bus bar unit 300.

[0066] Specifically, the battery modules 250 of the vertically stacked first battery module assembly 200 may be electrically connected to each other via the plurality of first bus bar members 310, and the battery modules 250 of the vertically stacked second battery module assembly 205 may be electrically connected to each other via the plurality of second bus bar members 330.

[0067] The first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205 may be connected to each other via the connecting bus bar member 350. Specifically, the connecting bus bar member 350 may connect the negative terminal 257 of the lowermost battery module 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 to the positive terminal 255 of the lowermost battery module 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 in the horizontal direction of the rack case 100.

[0068] In this embodiment, the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 and the battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 are arranged so as to be overlaid on each other, so that the negative electrode terminal 257 of the lowest battery module 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 and the positive electrode terminal 255 of the lowest battery module 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 can be arranged facing each other at the shortest distance.

[0069] Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the connecting bus bar member 350 may have a predetermined linear bar shape like the first bus bar member 310 and the second bus bar member 330. The connecting bus bar member 350 may more easily connect the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205.

[0070] That is, in this embodiment, when implementing the two-row vertically stacked structure of the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205, the battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 200 and the battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 205 are arranged upside down relative to each other, thereby minimizing the distance between the terminals 255, 257 for electrical connection on both sides. This simplifies the structure and connection form of the bus bar unit 300 connecting them. That is, since there is no need for a long, diagonally extending or multi-stage bent structure as in the conventional case, they can be easily and conveniently connected using a simple, straight, bar-shaped connecting bus bar member 350.

[0071] Therefore, in this embodiment, when implementing a two-row vertical stacking arrangement structure of the first battery module assembly 200 and the second battery module assembly 205, the terminal connection efficiency, i.e., wiring efficiency, of the battery module 250 can be significantly improved.

[0072] As a result, in this embodiment, the overall electrical connection configuration of the battery module 250 can be significantly simplified, and the space utilization within the rack case 100 can be improved.

[0073] In addition, in this embodiment, the shape of the busbar unit 300 can be simplified and uniformed, which reduces the manufacturing cost of the busbar unit 300 and significantly reduces the assembly process time of the busbar unit 300.

[0074] 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] The battery rack 20 according to this embodiment is similar to the battery rack 10 according to the previous embodiment, and therefore, in the following, for configurations that are substantially the same as or similar to those of the previous embodiment, redundant explanations will be omitted and the explanation will focus on the differences from the previous embodiment.

[0076] 9 and 10, the battery rack 20 may include a rack case 100, a first battery module assembly 207, a second battery module assembly 205, and a bus bar unit 300.

[0077] The rack case 100 is substantially the same as or similar to the above-described embodiment, and therefore, a duplicated description will be omitted below.

[0078] The first battery module assembly 207 and the second battery module assembly 208 may each include a plurality of battery modules 252 .

[0079] Each of the plurality of battery modules 252 may include a battery cell 251 , a module case 253 , a positive terminal 255 , a negative terminal 257 , and an identification member 259 .

[0080] The battery cell 251, the module case 253, the positive electrode terminal 255, and the negative electrode terminal 257 are substantially the same as or similar to those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore, redundant description will be omitted below.

[0081] The identification member 259 is provided on the module case 253, and makes it possible to determine whether the battery module 252 is arranged in the normal direction or the reverse direction in the vertical direction of the rack case 100.

[0082] Specifically, the identification member 259 may be provided in a substantially triangular shape at the front center of the module case 253. The identification member 259 may be arranged in the shape of an equilateral triangle in the forward direction and in the shape of an inverted triangle in the reverse direction.

[0083] Accordingly, in the case of the plurality of battery modules 252 of the first battery module assembly 207, the identification members 259 may be arranged in the shape of an equilateral triangle, and in the case of the plurality of battery modules 252 of the second battery module assembly 208, the identification members 259 may be arranged in the shape of an inverted triangle.

[0084] This allows the manufacturer or the like to more easily determine whether the battery module 252 is arranged in the normal direction or the reverse direction by visually checking the identification member 259, and effectively prevents the risk of over-assembly during electrical connection using the bus bar unit 300 described below.

[0085] The bus bar unit 300 may include a first bus bar member 310, a second bus bar member 330, and a connecting bus bar member 350.

[0086] The first bus bar member 310, the second bus bar member 330 and the connecting bus bar member 350 are substantially the same as or similar to those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore, redundant description will be omitted below.

[0087] As described above, in the battery rack 20 according to this embodiment, the identification member 259 can significantly reduce the risk of defects due to incorrect assembly during the assembly process of the battery rack 10.

[0088] FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a battery rack according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0089] Referring to FIG. 11, the battery rack 10A according to another embodiment differs from the battery rack 10 shown in FIG. 7 in the positions of the positive terminal 255 and the negative terminal 257 of the battery modules 250 provided in each of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204.

[0090] Specifically, the plurality of battery modules 250A included in the first battery module assembly 203 may have positive and negative terminals 255 and 257 offset to the left of the center of the module. Also, the plurality of battery modules 250B included in the second battery module assembly 204 may have positive and negative terminals 255 and 257 offset to the right of the center of the module.

[0091] In addition, the plurality of battery modules 250B included in the second battery module assembly 204 may have the same configuration as the plurality of battery modules 250A included in the first battery module assembly 203, except that they are arranged upside down. In other words, the plurality of battery modules 250B included in the second battery module assembly 204 and the plurality of battery modules 250A included in the first battery module assembly 203 have their components arranged symmetrically between the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204.

[0092] Furthermore, the first battery module assembly 203 may be provided with a plurality of first bus bar members 310 extending vertically along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery modules 250A. That is, the first bus bar members 310 may be configured to connect the negative electrode terminal 257 of one battery module 250A to the positive electrode terminal 255 of another battery module 250A.

[0093] The second battery module assembly 204 may include a plurality of second bus bar members 330 extending vertically along the stacking direction of the plurality of battery modules 250B. That is, the second bus bar members 330 may be configured to connect the positive terminal 255 of one battery module 250B to the negative terminal 257 of another battery module 250B.

[0094] The battery rack 10A may be provided with a connecting busbar member 350 configured to connect the positive terminal 255 of the battery module 250B of the second battery module assembly 204 and the negative terminal 257 of the battery module 250A of the first battery module assembly 203.

[0095] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 11, each of the plurality of battery modules 250 may include at least two or more cell assemblies (not shown) and a battery management system 260.

[0096] The cell assembly may include a plurality of battery cells. Here, the cell assembly is the same as that described above, and therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0097] The battery management system 260 may be configured to control charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells. The battery management system 260 may include electrical components (not shown). For example, the electrical components may be relays, current sensors, temperature sensors, fuses, etc. Such electrical components may be components for managing charging and discharging of the battery cells and ensuring safety.

[0098] The battery rack 10A may further include a central control unit 400. Specifically, the central control unit 400 may be configured to receive status information of the battery modules 250 from a battery management system 260 provided in each of the battery modules 250 and control charging and discharging of the battery modules 250. For example, the central control unit 400 may include a communication unit (not shown) for exchanging communication signals, an analysis unit (not shown) for analyzing the communication signals, a supply unit 410 for supplying power to external devices and internal components, and a memory unit (not shown) for storing the analyzed content of the communication signals.

[0099] Furthermore, the battery rack 10A may further include a cooling fan 270 and a fan power cable 275.

[0100] The cooling fan 270 may be provided in each of the battery modules 250A and 250B. The cooling fan 270 may be configured to take outside air into the battery module 250. Here, the cooling fan 270 may be a known cooling fan 270 that is typically applied to a battery module. That is, the cooling fan 270 may include an electric motor and a blower fan.

[0101] The fan power cable 275 may include an electric wire (containing a metal wire) configured to supply power to drive the cooling fan 270, and an electrically insulating tube covering the electric wire.

[0102] Furthermore, the fan power cable 275 may include a power supply section 276 and a connector unit 278 .

[0103] Specifically, the power supply unit 276 may be configured to be electrically connected to the supply unit 410 of the central control unit 400 so as to supply power to the cooling fan 270. For example, as shown in Fig. 11, the power supply unit 276 may be provided at an end of the fan power cable 275, the power supply unit 276 being electrically connected to the supply unit 410 of the central control unit 400.

[0104] The connector unit 278 may be configured to connect to an external power supply terminal of the cooling fan 270 provided in each of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204. For example, the connector unit 278 may have a structure branched in the left and right direction to the plurality of battery modules 250 provided in each of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204. The connector unit 278 may be configured to extend in the up and down direction between the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204.

[0105] Furthermore, the connector unit 278 of the fan power cable 275 may include a first connector unit 278a and a second connector unit 278b.

[0106] The first connector unit 278 a may have a branched structure for each of the plurality of battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 203 .

[0107] The second connector unit 278b may be positioned vertically spaced apart from the first connector unit 278a and have a branched structure that branches out to each of the plurality of battery modules 250 of the second battery module assembly 204.

[0108] Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, the fan power cable 275 includes a power supply unit 276 electrically connected to the central control unit 400 to supply power to the cooling fan 270, and a connector unit 278 branched in left and right directions to the plurality of battery modules 250 included in each of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204 and configured to connect to an external power supply terminal of the cooling fan 270.The fan power cable 275 having this structure can more easily connect the central control unit 400 and the cooling fans 270 included in each of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204.

[0109] That is, in this embodiment, when the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204 are vertically stacked in two rows to implement an arrangement structure, the left and right configurations of the battery module 250A of the first battery module assembly 203 and the battery module 250B of the second battery module assembly 204 are arranged in opposite directions, so that the connection distance of the fan power cable 275 for electrically connecting the provided cooling fan 270 can be implemented as the shortest distance.

[0110] This simplifies the connection structure of the fan power cable 275, reducing component manufacturing costs and component installation time. That is, the present invention overcomes the drawback of the prior art in which two fan power cables had to be used for each of the battery module assemblies arranged vertically in two rows, because the distance was too great to connect them in parallel to supply power to the cooling fans of the battery module assemblies arranged vertically in two rows.

[0111] 11 , the battery rack 10A may further include a communication cable 280. The communication cable 280 may be configured to exchange communication signals between the battery management system 260 provided in each of the plurality of battery modules 250 and the central control unit 400. For example, the communication cable 280 may be configured to transmit information such as the temperature, current, and voltage of the battery module 250.

[0112] A known communication cable that is typically used in battery racks may be used as the communication cable 280. Therefore, a more detailed description of the communication cable 280 will be omitted.

[0113] The communication cable 280 may include a connection portion 282 and an extension portion 284 .

[0114] The connection portion 282 may extend along the stacked battery modules 250 of the first battery module assembly 203 or the second battery module assembly 204. The connection portion 282 may be configured to connect to the battery management system 260 provided in each of the battery modules 250.

[0115] The extension portion 284 may extend to connect the battery management systems 260 included in the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204 to each other.

[0116] For example, the extension portion 284 may have a structure extending from the lowest battery module 250A of the first battery module assembly 203 to connect to the lowest battery module 250B of the second battery module assembly 204.

[0117] Therefore, according to this configuration of the present invention, the extension portion 284 of the communication cable 280 has a structure in which it extends from the lowest battery module 250A of the first battery module assembly 203 to connect to the lowest battery module 250B of the second battery module assembly 204, thereby more easily connecting the central control unit 400 and the battery management systems 260 provided in each of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204 via the communication cable 280 having such a structure.

[0118] That is, in this embodiment, when implementing a two-row vertically stacked structure of the first battery module assembly 203 and the second battery module assembly 204, the left-right configurations of the battery module 250A of the first battery module assembly 203 and the battery module 250B of the second battery module assembly 204 are arranged in opposite directions, thereby enabling the connection distance of the communication cable 280 for communication between the central control unit 400 and the battery management system 260 to be minimized.

[0119] This simplifies the connection structure of the communication cable 280, reducing component manufacturing costs and component installation time. In other words, in the prior art, in order to connect the communication cables between battery module assemblies stacked vertically in two rows, it was necessary to connect the lowermost battery module of the right-side battery module assembly to the uppermost battery module of the left-side battery module assembly. This resulted in a very long communication cable, which increased material costs and caused inconvenience to users after the battery rack was installed.

[0120] Therefore, the present invention minimizes the connection length of the communication cable 280, thereby effectively solving the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0121] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a power storage device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0122] 12, the power storage device 1 can be used as an energy source for home or industrial use. The power storage device 1 can include at least one of the above-described embodiments, in this embodiment, a plurality of battery racks 10, 20 and a rack container 50 that houses the plurality of battery racks 10, 20.

[0123] The power storage device 1 according to this embodiment includes the battery racks 10 and 20 of the above-described embodiments, so that the power storage device 1 can have all the advantages of the battery racks 10 and 20 of the above-described embodiments.

[0124] In addition, the battery racks 10 and 20 of the above-described embodiments can be installed in other equipment such as automobiles, such as electric vehicles, or other devices and appliances that use secondary batteries as energy sources, in addition to the power storage device 1.

[0125] According to the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide the battery racks 10 and 20 and the power storage device 1 including the same, which can improve the terminal connection efficiency of the battery modules 250 and 252.

[0126] Furthermore, through the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide the battery racks 10 and 20 and the power storage device 1 including the same, which can reduce manufacturing costs and improve the efficiency of the assembly process.

[0127] Although terms indicating directions such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear are used in this specification, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these terms are used merely for the convenience of explanation and may vary depending on the position of the object in question, the position of the observer, etc.

[0128] As described above, the present invention has been described using limited examples and drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that various modifications and variations can be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains within the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims. [Industrial Applicability]

[0129] The present invention relates to a battery rack, and is applicable to industries related to large-scale power storage devices including the battery rack.

[0130] Furthermore, the present invention preferably includes the following examples. [1] A battery rack, a rack case having a predetermined storage space; a first battery module assembly disposed within the rack case and including a plurality of battery modules stacked along a vertical direction of the rack case; a second battery module assembly including a plurality of battery modules stacked along a vertical direction of the rack case and spaced a predetermined distance from the first battery module assembly, The battery rack, wherein the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly are arranged upside down in the rack case based on the arrangement of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly. [2] The battery rack described in [1] includes a busbar unit that electrically connects the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly and the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly. [3] The battery rack according to [2], wherein the busbar unit has a linear bar shape. [4] The busbar unit includes: a plurality of first bus bar members connecting the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly to each other; a plurality of second bus bar members interconnecting the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly; a connecting bus bar member that interconnects the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly. [5] The connecting bus bar member is The battery rack according to [4], characterized in that the lowest battery module of the first battery module assembly and the lowest battery module of the second battery module assembly are interconnected. [6] The connecting bus bar member is [5] The battery rack described in [5], characterized in that the battery rack is provided in a linear bar shape and interconnects the lowest battery module of the first battery module assembly and the lowest battery module of the second battery module assembly in the horizontal direction of the rack case. [7] Each of the plurality of battery modules comprises: at least one battery cell; a module case that houses the at least one battery cell; The battery rack according to any one of [2] to [6], characterized in that it includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal provided on one side of the module case and electrically connected to the at least one battery cell. [8] The battery rack described in [7], wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are arranged in the vertical direction from one end of the module case. [9] Each of the plurality of battery modules comprises: The battery rack described in [7] or [8] is characterized in that it includes an identification member provided in the module case that determines whether the battery module is arranged in the forward or reverse direction in the vertical direction of the rack case.

[10] Each of the plurality of battery modules includes: At least two or more cell assemblies having a plurality of battery cells; and a battery management system configured to control charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells; The battery rack is The battery rack described in any one of [7] to [9] is characterized in that it comprises a central control unit configured to receive battery module status information from a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and to control the charging and discharging of the plurality of battery modules.

[11] The battery rack is a cooling fan provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and configured to take in outside air into the battery module;

[10] The battery rack according to

[10] , characterized in that it includes a fan power cable configured to supply power for driving the cooling fan.

[12] The fan power cable a power supply unit electrically connected to the central control unit to supply power to the cooling fan;

[11] The battery rack described in

[11] is characterized by comprising a connector unit that branches out in the left and right directions toward the plurality of battery modules provided in each of the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly, and is configured to connect to an external power supply terminal of the cooling fan.

[13] The fan power cable connector unit is a first connector unit branching to each of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly;

[12] The battery rack described in

[12] , characterized by comprising a second connector unit branched to each of the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly.

[14] the battery rack further includes a communication cable configured to exchange communication signals between a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and the central control unit; The communication cable includes: a connection portion extending along the stacked battery modules of the first battery module assembly or the second battery module assembly and configured to connect to a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules; an extension portion extending to connect the battery management systems provided in each of the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly, The battery rack described in any one of

[10] to

[13] , wherein the extension portion has a structure extending from the lowest battery module of the first battery module assembly to be connected to the lowest battery module of the second battery module assembly.

[15] [1] -

[14] A power storage device including at least one battery rack according to any one of [1] to

[14] . [Explanation of symbols]

[0131] 1. Power storage device 10 Battery Rack 20 Battery Rack 50 rack containers 100 rack cases 200, 203, 207 First battery module assembly 204, 205, 208 Second battery module assembly 250, 252 battery module 251 battery cells 253 Module Case 255 Positive terminal 257 Negative terminal 259 Identification elements 260 Battery Management System 270 Cooling Fan 275 Fan power cable 276 Power supply section 278 Connector Unit 280 Communication Cable 282 Connection 284 Extension 300 busbar unit 310 first bus bar member 330 second bus bar member 350 Connecting bus bar member 400 Central Control Unit

Claims

1. A battery rack, a rack case having a predetermined storage space for storing battery modules in two rows, one on the left and one on the right; a first battery module assembly disposed in a left column of the rack case and including a plurality of battery modules stacked along a vertical direction of the rack case; a second battery module assembly disposed in a right column of the rack case at a predetermined distance from the first battery module assembly and including a plurality of battery modules stacked along a vertical direction of the rack case; a plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly being arranged upside down in the rack case based on an arrangement of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly, a bus bar unit electrically connecting the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly and the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly; The busbar unit has a linear bar shape, the battery modules included in the first battery module assembly are connected in series in a vertical direction by the bus bar unit, the battery modules included in the second battery module assembly are connected in series in a vertical direction by the bus bar unit, a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery module of the first battery module assembly are located on an opposite side to the second battery module assembly; a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal of a battery module of the second battery module assembly are located on an opposite side to the first battery module assembly; one battery module of the first battery module assembly and a battery module of the second battery module assembly horizontally adjacent to the first battery module assembly are connected in a horizontal direction by the bus bar unit; the battery rack includes a cooling fan provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and configured to take outside air into the battery module; an external power supply terminal of the cooling fan of the battery module of the first battery module assembly is located on the side of the second battery module assembly; The battery rack, wherein an external power terminal of the cooling fan of the battery module of the second battery module assembly is located on the side of the first battery module assembly.

2. The busbar unit includes: a plurality of first bus bar members connecting the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly to each other; a plurality of second bus bar members connecting the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly to each other; The battery rack according to claim 1 , further comprising: a connecting bus bar member that interconnects the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly.

3. The connecting bus bar member is 3. The battery rack according to claim 2, wherein the lowermost battery module of the first battery module assembly and the lowermost battery module of the second battery module assembly are interconnected.

4. Each of the plurality of battery modules comprises: at least one battery cell; a module case that houses the at least one battery cell; 4. The battery rack according to claim 1, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the battery module are provided on one side of the module case and electrically connected to the at least one battery cell.

5. The battery rack according to claim 4, wherein the positive terminal and the negative terminal are disposed in a vertical direction from one end of the module case.

6. Each of the plurality of battery modules comprises:

6. The battery rack according to claim 4, further comprising an identification member provided in the module case for determining whether the battery modules are arranged in a normal or reverse orientation in the vertical direction of the rack case.

7. Each of the plurality of battery modules includes: At least two or more cell assemblies having a plurality of battery cells; and a battery management system configured to control charging and discharging of the plurality of battery cells; The battery rack is 7. The battery rack according to claim 4, further comprising: a central control unit configured to receive status information of the battery modules from a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and to control charging and discharging of the plurality of battery modules.

8. The battery rack is The battery rack according to claim 7, further comprising a fan power cable configured to supply power for driving the cooling fan.

9. The fan power cable a power supply unit electrically connected to the central control unit to supply power to the cooling fan; 9. The battery rack according to claim 8, further comprising: a connector unit branching out in left and right directions toward the plurality of battery modules included in each of the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly, and configured to connect to an external power supply terminal of the cooling fan.

10. The fan power cable connector unit is a first connector unit branching to each of the plurality of battery modules of the first battery module assembly; 10. The battery rack according to claim 9, further comprising: a second connector unit branched to each of the plurality of battery modules of the second battery module assembly.

11. the battery rack further includes a communication cable configured to exchange communication signals between a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules and the central control unit; The communication cable includes: a connection portion extending along the stacked battery modules of the first battery module assembly or the second battery module assembly and configured to connect to a battery management system provided in each of the plurality of battery modules; an extension portion extending to connect the battery management systems provided in each of the first battery module assembly and the second battery module assembly, 11. The battery rack of claim 8, wherein the extension portion has a structure extending from a lowermost battery module of the first battery module assembly to be connected to a lowermost battery module of the second battery module assembly.

12. An electrical power storage device comprising at least one battery rack according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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