Battery module, battery pack including the battery module, energy storage device including the battery pack, and automobile

Abstract

A battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention is characterized by including at least one battery cell, a module case accommodating the at least one battery cell, at least one anti-flow pocket provided in the module case for preventing the escape of flames or sparks in the event of an abnormal state of the at least one battery cell, and a fire extinguishing agent injection unit provided in the at least one anti-flow pocket for injecting a fire extinguishing agent into the module case in the event of an abnormal state.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery module, a battery pack including the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and a vehicle.

[0002] This application claims priority based on Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0188505, filed on December 27, 2021, 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 each product group 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) that are driven by electrical sources. These secondary batteries are attracting attention as a new, environmentally friendly and highly energy-efficient energy source, not only because they have the primary advantage of significantly reducing the amount of fossil fuel used, but also because they do not produce any by-products from 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 2.5 to 4.5 V. Therefore, if a higher output voltage is required, a battery pack may be constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in series. Alternatively, depending on the charge / discharge capacity required for the battery pack, a battery pack may be constructed by connecting multiple battery cells in parallel. Therefore, the number of battery cells included in the battery pack can be set in various ways depending on the required output voltage and charge / discharge capacity.

[0005] Meanwhile, when configuring a battery pack by connecting multiple battery cells in series / parallel, a common method is to first configure a battery module including at least one battery cell, and then use that at least one battery module to add other components to configure a battery pack or battery rack.

[0006] A conventional battery module generally includes a plurality of stacked battery cells and a module housing that accommodates the plurality of battery cells. In such a conventional battery module, if a specific battery cell among the plurality of battery cells overheats due to an abnormal condition, the heat generated in the overheated battery cell is directly transferred to adjacent battery cells, causing thermal runaway and leading to a greater risk, such as an explosion of the battery module.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to find ways to provide a battery module that can prevent thermal runaway when a battery cell is in an abnormal state, a battery pack including the battery module, an energy storage device including the battery pack, and a vehicle. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery module capable of preventing thermal runaway when a battery cell is in an abnormal state, a battery pack including the battery module, and an energy storage device and a vehicle including the battery pack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a battery module comprising at least one battery cell, a module case accommodating the at least one battery cell, at least one anti-flow pocket provided in the module case for preventing the escape of flames or sparks in the event of an abnormal state of the at least one battery cell, and a fire extinguisher injection unit provided in the at least one anti-flow pocket for injecting a fire extinguisher into the module case in the event of the abnormal state.

[0010] A plurality of the spill prevention pockets may be provided, and the plurality of spill prevention pockets may be arranged with at least one of the battery cells sandwiched between them.

[0011] A plurality of the spill prevention pockets may be provided on both side edges of the module case.

[0012] The plurality of anti-spill pockets may have a predetermined space capable of containing the flame or sparks.

[0013] The plurality of anti-outflow pockets may be provided in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of flames or sparks in the abnormal state.

[0014] The extinguishing agent injection unit may be provided in at least one of the plurality of anti-spill pockets.

[0015] The extinguishing agent injection unit may be provided to pass through at least one of the plurality of anti-spill pockets.

[0016] The extinguishant injection unit may include an injection unit body provided outside the module case and containing the extinguishant, and an injection nozzle connected to the injection unit body and penetrating at least one of the plurality of anti-leakage pockets.

[0017] The injection nozzle is arranged in the plurality of anti-flow pockets so as to face at least one of the battery cells, and is capable of injecting the extinguishing agent toward the at least one battery cell when the abnormal state occurs.

[0018] A plurality of the extinguishant ejection units may be provided, and the plurality of extinguishant ejection units may be disposed opposite each other with at least one of the battery cells interposed therebetween.

[0019] The extinguishing agent may consist of extinguishing water or extinguishing gas.

[0020] The present invention also provides a battery pack including at least one battery module according to the above-described embodiment and a pack case that houses the at least one battery module.

[0021] Furthermore, the present invention provides an energy storage device, characterized in that it includes at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiments.

[0022] Furthermore, the present invention provides a motor vehicle, characterized in that it includes at least one battery pack according to the above-described embodiment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] According to the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a battery module capable of preventing thermal runaway when a battery cell is in an abnormal state, a battery pack including the battery module, and an energy storage device and a vehicle including the battery pack.

[0024] The drawings attached to this specification illustrate preferred embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description of the present invention to be described later, serve to further understand the technical concepts of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to the matters described in the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the battery module of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] 2 is a diagram for explaining a thermal runaway prevention mechanism when the battery module of FIG. 1 is in an abnormal state. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram for explaining a thermal runaway prevention mechanism when the battery module of FIG. 1 is in an abnormal state. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are views illustrating a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments described herein are shown by way of example to facilitate understanding of the present 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 present invention, the accompanying drawings may be drawn not to scale but with some components exaggerated.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a battery module according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the battery module of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the battery module of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the battery module of FIG. 3.

[0028] 1 to 4, a battery module 10 may include a battery cell 100, a module case 200, a spill prevention pocket 400, and a fire extinguishing agent injection unit 500.

[0029] The battery cell 100 is a secondary battery and may be a pouch-type secondary battery, a prismatic secondary battery, or a cylindrical secondary battery. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to the case where the battery cell 100 is provided as a pouch-type secondary battery.

[0030] The battery cell 100 may include an electrode assembly, a battery case that houses the electrode assembly, and an electrode lead 150 that protrudes from the battery case and connects to the electrode assembly. The electrode lead 150 senses the voltage of the battery cell 100 and may be coupled to a bus bar assembly (not shown) attached to a module case 200, which will be described later.

[0031] There may be at least one or a plurality of such battery cells 100. Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described only in terms of a case where a plurality of battery cells 100 are provided and stacked so as to be electrically connectable to each other.

[0032] The module case 200 can accommodate at least one, in this embodiment, a plurality of the battery cells 100. To this end, the module case 200 may have an accommodating space for accommodating the plurality of battery cells 100.

[0033] The spill prevention pocket 400 is provided in the module case 200 and can prevent the escape of flames or sparks F when at least one of the battery cells 100 is in an abnormal state.

[0034] There may be provided a plurality of such spill prevention pockets 400. The plurality of spill prevention pockets 400 may be arranged with at least one battery cell 100 sandwiched between them.

[0035] The plurality of spill prevention pockets 400 may be provided on both side edge portions of the module case 200. The plurality of spill prevention pockets 400 may be provided in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the flame or sparks F in the abnormal state.

[0036] The plurality of anti-spill pockets 400 may have predetermined spaces 450 capable of accommodating the flames or sparks F. The predetermined spaces 450 may be formed in a predetermined shape capable of accommodating the flames or sparks F. For example, the predetermined spaces 450 may be formed in a convex shape on the edge region of the module case 200 to form a predetermined space therein.

[0037] The extinguishant injection unit 500 is provided in at least one of the outflow prevention pockets 400, and can inject an extinguishant 550 into the module case 200 in the abnormal state. Specifically, the extinguishant injection unit 500 can be provided in at least one of the plurality of outflow prevention pockets 400.

[0038] The extinguishant injection unit 500 is provided so as to penetrate at least one of the plurality of anti-overflow pockets 400 and can be disposed in the space 450 of the anti-overflow pocket 400 that it penetrates.

[0039] A plurality of such extinguishant injection units 500 may be provided. The plurality of extinguishant injection units 500 may be disposed opposite each other with at least one battery cell 100 interposed therebetween. A plurality of the extinguishant injection units 500 may be provided in each of the outflow prevention pockets 400.

[0040] Each of the plurality of extinguishing agent injection units 500 may include an injection unit body 510 , an injection nozzle 530 and the extinguishing agent 550 .

[0041] The injection unit body 510 may include the extinguishing agent 550 and may be installed outside the module case 200. The injection unit body 510 may be connected to an extinguishing agent supply unit (not shown) for supplying the extinguishing agent 550.

[0042] The injection nozzle 530 is connected to the injection unit body 510 and can penetrate at least one of the plurality of anti-outflow pockets 400. The injection nozzle 530 is disposed to face at least one battery cell 100 in the space 450 of the plurality of anti-outflow pockets 400, and can inject the fire extinguishing agent 550 toward at least one battery cell 100 when the abnormal state occurs.

[0043] The extinguishing agent 550 may be a liquid or gaseous substance, such as fire water or fire gas, capable of suppressing a fire, etc. However, without being limited thereto, it goes without saying that the extinguishing agent 550 may be made of other types of substances capable of suppressing a fire, etc., or mixtures of these components.

[0044] Hereinafter, the mechanism for preventing thermal runaway when an abnormal state occurs in the battery module 10 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0045] 5 and 6 are diagrams for explaining a thermal runaway prevention mechanism when an abnormal state occurs in the battery module of FIG.

[0046] 5 and 6, at least one of the battery cells 100 of the battery module 10 may be in a dangerous state, such as overheating due to an abnormal condition, which may lead to a fire or the like.

[0047] The flames or sparks F generated from the battery cells 100 in the module case 200 of the battery module 10 in the abnormal state are blocked by the leakage prevention pocket 400 and can be prevented from leaking out of the module case 200. That is, the leakage prevention pocket 400 prevents the flames or sparks F from coming into contact with oxygen outside the module case 200, thereby preventing dangerous situations such as thermal runaway and fire.

[0048] Furthermore, particles and residues generated from the flame or sparks F may settle in the space 450 of the anti-flow pocket 400 and accumulate in the space 450 without flowing out of the module case 200. In other words, the anti-flow pocket 400 can achieve thermal runaway suppression and fire suppression in a passive manner.

[0049] In this case, the extinguishant injection unit 500, in which the injection nozzle 530 is disposed in the outflow prevention pocket 400, can inject the extinguishant 550 through the injection nozzle 530. That is, the extinguishant injection unit 500 can achieve thermal runaway suppression and fire suppression in an active manner.

[0050] As described above, the battery module 10 according to the present embodiment can suppress thermal runaway and fire in the abnormal state by both passive and active methods through the leakage prevention pocket 400 and the fire extinguishing agent injection unit 500, thereby significantly reducing the risk of thermal runaway and fire that may occur when the battery module 10 is in an abnormal state.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a battery module according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] 7, the battery module 20 may include a plurality of extinguishant spraying units 505. The plurality of extinguishant spraying units 505 may be provided at the front and rear portions of the battery module 20, respectively, and may be provided at the four corners of the front edge and the four corners of the rear edge.

[0053] As described above, the installation position and number of the extinguishant injection units 505 can be appropriately determined in consideration of the capacity and case shape of the battery module 20 so as to minimize thermal runaway of the battery module 20.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a battery pack according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 8, a battery pack 1 may include at least one or more battery modules 10 of the previous embodiment and a pack case 50 for accommodating at least one or more of the battery modules 10.

[0056] At least one or more battery packs 1 may be provided as an energy source for an energy storage device or an automobile, and it goes without saying that the battery pack 1 may also be provided in other devices, appliances, and equipment that use secondary batteries, in addition to the energy storage device or automobile.

[0057] In this way, devices, appliances, and equipment equipped with the battery pack 1 according to this embodiment, such as an energy storage device or automobile, can realize devices, appliances, and equipment such as an energy storage device or automobile that have all the advantages of the battery module 10 described above.

[0058] According to the various embodiments described above, it is possible to provide a battery module 10, 20 capable of preventing thermal runaway when the battery cell 100 is in an abnormal state, a battery pack 1 including the battery module 10, 20, and an energy storage device and a vehicle including the battery pack 1.

[0059] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. It goes without saying that various modified embodiments are possible by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims, and these modified embodiments should be understood individually from the technical ideas and perspectives of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 battery pack 10 Battery Module 20 Battery Module 50 pack case 100 battery cells 150 electrode leads 200 Module Case 400 spill prevention pocket 450 spaces 500 Fire Extinguishing Agent Injection Unit 505 Fire extinguishing agent injection unit 510 Injection unit body 530 Injection Nozzle 550 Fire extinguishing agent F spark

Claims

1. at least one battery cell; a module case that houses at least one of the battery cells; at least one outflow prevention pocket provided in the module case, the at least one outflow prevention pocket having a predetermined space formed in a convex shape in an edge region inside the module case so as to be in a direction opposite to a traveling direction of a flame or spark in an outflow path of the flame or spark when an abnormal state occurs in the at least one battery cell, in order to prevent the outflow of the flame or spark when overheating occurs in the at least one battery cell due to an abnormal state of the at least one battery cell; a fire extinguishant injection unit provided in at least one of the outflow prevention pockets, penetrating the outflow prevention pockets so as to be in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the flames or sparks, the fire extinguishant injection unit injecting fire extinguishant into the module case when the abnormal state occurs; Including a battery module.

2. The spill prevention pocket is There are several The plurality of spill prevention pockets include: The battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the battery module is disposed across at least one of the battery cells.

3. The plurality of spill prevention pockets include: The battery module according to claim 2 , wherein the battery module is provided on each of both side edge portions of the module case.

4. A battery module as described in claim 2, wherein the specified space is capable of accommodating the flame or the sparks.

5. The extinguishing agent injection unit includes: The battery module according to claim 2 , provided in at least one of the plurality of spill prevention pockets.

6. The extinguishing agent injection unit includes: an injection unit body provided outside the module case and including the fire extinguishing agent; 6. The battery module according to claim 5, further comprising: an injection nozzle connected to the injection unit body and penetrating at least one of the plurality of anti-spill pockets.

7. The injection nozzle is 7. The battery module according to claim 6, wherein the fire extinguishing agent is disposed in the plurality of anti-spill pockets so as to face at least one of the battery cells, and the fire extinguishing agent is sprayed toward the at least one battery cell when the abnormal state occurs.

8. The extinguishing agent injection unit includes: There are several The plurality of extinguishing agent injection units include: The battery module according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one battery cell is disposed between the adjacent battery cells.

9. The extinguishing agent is The battery module of claim 1 , which is composed of fire extinguishing water or fire extinguishing gas.

10. At least one battery module according to any one of claims 1 to 9; a pack case that houses at least one of the battery modules; Including the battery pack.

11. 11. An energy storage device comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 10.

12. A motor vehicle comprising at least one battery pack according to claim 10.

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